The EU rejects that its digital policies are against the United States

The European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services defends that both powers are “like-minded partners”

June 23 () –

The European Commissioner for the Internal Market and Services, Thierry Breton, has assured that European legislation on technology “is not against anyone” and has defended that the European Union and the United States are “like-minded partners” in this field .

During his speech this Friday in Silicon Valley, Breton has rejected the “urban legend” that European regulation targets US technology giants.

The commissioner explained that regulations such as the Digital Services Law or the Digital Markets Law “are not against anyone”, that “they are in favor of a safer online environment where hate speech and cyberbullying have no place “.

As an example, the EU representative has mentioned the European data strategy, claiming that it “will benefit all companies, European, American and others alike” by allowing “easy and secure data sharing”.

Breton has insisted that “compliance with European standards is not a punishment”, but “an opportunity to take advantage of the single European market”, and has affirmed that American companies are “welcome in Europe”, as long as they take advantage of its “rules” and its “conditions”.

Along the same lines, the commissioner stressed that Europe is “one step ahead” as far as the organization of its digital space is concerned and, for this reason, he said he did not understand those who describe European actions -especially in Intelligence Artificial– as “anti-innovation”.

In this sense, Breton has added that “the assertiveness” of European policies is not synonymous with “protectionism” and has defended that “the European Union is and will continue to be one of the most open economies in the world”.

“But it has to be on our terms, with us in the driver’s seat,” reiterated the head of the Internal Market.

“LIKE-MINDED PARTNERS”

Breton not only does not consider the European Union’s digital policies to be contrary to the interests of the United States, but believes that “when it comes to technology, the United States and the EU are like-minded partners.”

The commissioner has justified his words with three arguments. In the first place, he has alluded to the fact that both powers recognize technology as “a pillar” for their economic security.

Related to the above, Breton has highlighted that both Washington and Brussels have similar thoughts on how to “take advantage of the economic opportunity that technology offers.”

Lastly, the commissioner stressed that both sides of the Atlantic yearn to “lead a digital transformation based on their democratic values”, in a context in which technology is putting “our society to the test”.

“Transparency, accountability, trust, empowering children online: these are well-established principles that we share. We uphold freedom of expression as a universal right, both online and offline. On both sides of the Atlantic, with one exception : illegal content such as hate speech, threats or defamation”, Breton concluded.