Major U.S. tech firms, including Alphabet (GOOGL), Meta Platforms (META), Netflix (NFLX), Microsoft (MSFT), and Amazon (AMZN), are likely to avoid strict new rules under Europe’s upcoming digital overhaul, according to a Reuters report.
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The move is part of a broader revamp of European Union (EU) tech and telecom rules, known as the Digital Networks Act (DNA), which aims to boost investment in Europe’s telecom infrastructure and improve competitiveness. While telecom firms had called for tougher rules on Big Tech, regulators now seem inclined to hold back on strict new limits.
Big Tech Faces Voluntary Rules
Under the current proposal, large tech companies will not face binding requirements. Instead, they will be asked to take part in a voluntary system, where they could share best practices and hold talks with regulators.
These discussions will be overseen by BEREC, which coordinates telecom regulators across the EU. Reportedly, there will be no new legal duties for Big Tech, only voluntary cooperation.
This decision follows pushback from the United States, which has argued that recent EU tech laws unfairly target U.S. companies. However, EU officials have denied that claim.
What the EU Is Prioritizing
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen is expected to present the plan on January 20.
The focus will be on telecom rules rather than new limits on tech giants. The proposal will set guidance on how radio spectrum is sold, how long licenses last, and how prices are set during auctions. These auctions often bring in billions of euros for governments.
The plan also aims to speed up fiber network rollout across Europe. Countries that are not ready to replace copper networks may be allowed to delay the 2030 deadline.
Wall Street’s Take on Big Tech Stocks
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