Taxpayer Watchdog Slams European Crusade Against U.S. Tech Champions 

For Immediate Release

Contact: Kara Zupkus (224) 456-0257

Washington D.C. – Today, the European Commission (EC) found that Apple and Meta had violated the Digital Markets Act (DMA). DMA is the European Union (EU)’s quasi-protectionist and deeply invasive regulation of online platforms. Apple is charged with failing to adequately facilitate users’ switching over to third-party app stores, while Meta is charged with offering the wrong kind of ad-free services. Besides disproportionately affecting American tech companies, the DMA – including this announcement – stifles innovation, degrades cybersecurity, and stands in the way of free consumer choice.  

David Williams, President of the Taxpayers Protection Alliance (TPA), offered the following comment in response to the EC’s finding:   

“The EU’s targeting of U.S. tech companies serves no public good. In reality, it will harm consumers by constraining choice and dampening innovation. The DMA is an overbearing, yet always-moving, regulatory target for tech companies to hit. It ends up resulting in massive compliance costs, the loss of innovative potential, and degraded services being put on the market. The EU has regulated its own tech sector out of relevance. Now, knowingly or unknowingly, is now attempting to do the same to the U.S. tech sector. 

“It’s also important to note that Apple and Meta both tried to comply with the DMA’s short-sighted and technocratic solutions. However, this wasn’t enough for the EC, which has continuously imposed fines and liability findings on American tech platforms whose only crime is attracting user bases by offering innovative and useful products. Today’s announcement, and the trend of which it is a part, is fundamentally not about fair competition, but pursuing American companies for their success. 

“In the face of today’s decision, President Donald Trump, Vice President J.D. Vance, and the rest of the administration should push back hard against the EU’s unfair targeting of U.S. companies. This kind of discrimination harms the American tech sector and America’s continued status as the global technology leader. Having applauded the Trump administration’s efforts on this front before, TPA encourages the White House to redouble its efforts. 

“A thriving tech sector, both on the national and international levels, depends on a wide zone of freedom within which to operate and innovate. The DMA and its enforcement stand in direct contradiction to this freedom and, therefore, to innovation. TPA looks forward to the Trump administration protecting American companies against European regulatory aggression.”