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How global technology leaders meddle with EU policy
- Tech entrepreneurs are increasingly influencing EU policy debates through their financial power, technological clout, and vast platforms.
- The European Union (EU) politicians have criticised figures like Elon Musk for meddling in democratic processes.
- According to LobbyFacts data, firms registered in EU Transparency Register collectively increased their annual lobbying budgets to approximately €120 million in 2022.
- The strategic interest of global tech companies in shaping the regulatory frameworks governing digital assets in the EU was highlighted by companies like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Huawei and Meta.
- EU tech entrepreneurs and companies are also increasing their advocacy and lobbying endeavors in Brussels through concentrated efforts but they do not yet match the influence or purchasing power of US tech companies.
- Daniel Ek of Spotify and Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg are advocating for the need for ‘fairer’ regulations for tech companies operating in Europe.
- Founders like Daniel Ek are also vocal about the need for ‘fair’ competition in the digital market, including concerning open-source AI.
- Elon Musk’s use of Twitter has become a key point of contention in the EU with his interference in national debates.
- Tech founders like Daniel Ek and Mark Zuckerberg’s push for open-source innovation to Elon Musk’s use of X for political influence highlights the evolving relationship between tech and governance in the EU.
- Critics argue that the increasing role of tech founders and companies in EU politics risks creating a technocratic dynamic, where wealth translates into disproportionate political power.
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