Europe

Private firms face a number of challenges that limit their willingness and ability to share mobility data. The government’s role should be to coordinate the behavior of individuals, companies, and researchers toward social good.

Rob and Jackie sat down with Denis Redonnet, the EU’s chief trade enforcement officer, to discuss the opportunities and challenges for the new U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council and the broader implications for trade policies in the United States, the EU, and in the World Trade Organization.

Over the last few years, many algorithm-driven companies in the digital economy have been investigated, prosecuted and fined, mostly for allegedly unfair algorithm design. Legislative proposals aim at regulating the way algorithms shape competition. Consequently, a so-called “algorithmic antitrust” theory and practice have also emerged.

As the United States and the European Union continue to work on building back better the transatlantic relationship in the coming year, they should make resolving data flows a top priority.

Commerce Secretary Raimondo must be applauded for voicing concern about the EU’s proposed Digital Markets Act—not only for warning about the harm it will do to U.S. tech companies, U.S. workers, and the U.S. economy, but also for highlighting the considerable competitive gains that the DMA will grant Chinese tech rivals.

The Digital Markets Unit does a disservice to the United Kingdom’s legal tradition and economic future precisely when the country is at historical post-Brexit crossroads.

The EU and the U.S. need to address the real technology competitiveness challenge, which is China.

Cloud computing is essential for innovation and competitiveness, but France is lagging behind in its cloud adoption. To catch up, it would be more efficient and effective for France to protect consumers and promote competition with industry-led guidelines instead of rigid and onerous regulations such as the proposed Digital Markets Act.

Allies and partners like the United States, the EU, the United Kingdom, and Canada should avoid destabilizing trade frictions that threaten to derail much-needed climate progress and instead work toward a collaborative climate innovation club.

ITIF's Center for Data Innovation hosted a discussion about the ins and outs of Article 22, its purpose, its flaws, and whether it is fit for purpose in the digital age. The outputs of the discussion will be fed back to the Minister for Digital and Culture as part of the Government’s formal consultation for the new National Data Strategy.

Whether the U.S. and EU succeed in rebuilding the transatlantic relationship holds broad implications, because the alternative—strained engagement between major trading partners—would help fragment the digital economy and give a strategic gift to China.

ITIF's Center for Data Innovation argued the framework should encourage responsible adoption and use of the technology to benefit society, provide guardrails that address potential harms, and foster growth and innovation in the European digital economy.