Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg made a surprise appearance on the Joe Rogan internet show in the US, where he advocated for the future US President Donald Trump to support the US in disputes with the EU. “I think it’s a strategic advantage for the United States to have many of the strongest companies in the world, and I think it should be part of the future US strategy to defend that” he said. “And that’s one of the points where I’m optimistic about President Trump.”
Zuckerberg criticized the EU for forcing US technology companies to pay “more than $30 billion in fines” over the past two decades, citing the recent $797 million fine imposed on Meta for violating EU competition rules. He claimed that the Biden administration had not addressed this issue.
The article highlights the conflicts between the US and the EU, particularly in the areas of taxation and content regulation. The EU has been pushing for US tech companies to pay taxes in Europe, as seen in the long-standing disputes with Apple and Microsoft. The EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is also aimed at regulating the content disseminated by these companies.
Zuckerberg’s comments have sparked controversy, as he had previously supported the Democratic Party, albeit indirectly through Facebook’s content moderation mechanisms. His recent about-face has raised questions about the influence of big tech on politics.