Brussels is reassessing its investigations into tech giants, including Apple, Meta, and Google, as US companies call on President-elect Donald Trump to intervene against what they describe as “overzealous” EU practices.
The review, which could lead the European Commission to narrow or change the scope of investigations, will cover all cases opened since March last year under the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), two officials briefed on the matter told the Financial Times (FT).
The decision comes as the Brussels institution begins a new five-year term amid mounting pressure on its handling of landmark cases and as Trump prepares to return to the White House.
“It’s going to be a whole new ball game with these tech oligarchs who are so close to Trump and are using that to pressure us,” said a senior EU diplomat familiar with the review. “A lot is unclear at the moment,” he added.
Officials stated that all judgments and possible fines will be paused while the review is finalized, but technical work on the cases will continue. Some investigations are in early stages, while others are more advanced. Charges were expected to be filed last year in an investigation into alleged favoritism of Google’s app store.
Two other EU officials said regulators in Brussels were awaiting political instructions to take final decisions on the Google, Apple, and Meta cases.
The review comes as EU lawmakers urged the Commission to remain steadfast in the face of US pressure, while Silicon Valley executives hailed Trump’s return as the start of an era of lighter tech regulation.
Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg recently called on the president-elect to stop Brussels from fining US tech companies, complaining that EU regulators have forced US firms to pay “more than $30 billion” in fines over the past 20 years. Zuckerberg, who recently announced plans to remove the verification mechanism on Facebook and Instagram—potentially flouting EU rules—expressed confidence that the incoming Trump administration would protect American interests abroad.
While one official acknowledged that Trump’s presidency was a factor in the review, they insisted that his victory had not triggered it. The Commission stated it remains “fully committed to the effective implementation” of its rules.
A Commission spokesperson explained that ongoing cases are “not yet ready at a technical level,” emphasizing that such investigations take time due to their complexity, novelty, and the need to ensure legally sound decisions.
Before Trump’s victory, EU regulators had taken aggressive action against the world’s largest tech groups, implementing reforms aimed at opening markets and creating a regulatory framework for Big Tech. Under the DMA, Brussels launched investigations into Apple, Google, and Meta last March.
The Commission also faced pressure to use the full powers of the DMA, a set of rules aimed at policing online content, to curb the growing influence of tech billionaire Elon Musk in European affairs.
Current investigations include whether Apple favors its own app store and whether Meta uses personal data for advertisements, alongside a similar probe into Google’s parent company, Alphabet. Brussels is also consulting Apple’s competitors on proposals to harmonize the tech group’s iOS operating system with connected devices.
Danish Margrethe Vestager and French Thierry Breton, both known for their hardline stance against US tech companies, resigned from the Commission in November.
One official told the FT that priorities may be shifting, noting that the digital rules were inherited from the previous Commission. “There may be a political reality [in the US] that is putting pressure on the technical work… we will look and assess based on concrete measures and actions of the new [Trump] administration,” the Commission’s chief spokesperson said.
EU lawmakers, however, urged regulators to stand firm. Stephanie Yon-Courtin, a Member of the European Parliament involved in drafting the tech rules, stated that EU investigations cannot be sacrificed to avoid diplomatic backlash.
In a letter to Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Yon-Courtin emphasized that the DMA must not be “taken hostage” and requested reassurance that the Commission remains committed to its effective implementation without delay.
