LobbyControl Tech

🚨"The EU is breaking the law with this deal," says Gabriel Felbermayr, director of the Wifo research institute in Vienna in Der Spiegel. If true, the tariff deal is not only one-sided in the interests of US corporations, but also illegal. The EU-US tariff deal needs to be stopped!

A new paper published by the US government shows that it interprets the EU-US trade deal as having secured exemptions for US corporations from EU regulations in areas like food and digital 🚨

If this interpretation is confirmed, it would be “#TTIP through the back door", as LobbyControl points out ⬇️

This is bold: According to the US government, the Trump-vdL deal to settle the tariff war with the EU could lead to EU food standards & digital rights being undermined by interference in our laws. All in the interests of US corporations. Not a good deal – EU-Parliament & member states must stop it!

The deal between Trump and von der Leyen has far-reaching consequences for the EU's economy. Decision-making on such a deal should not take place on a golf course in Turnberry behind closed doors. EU trade policy deserves more transparency and public scrutiny.

The Trump camp have put unacceptable demands to the EU for him to cool the trade war: deregulate to please US corporations. Unfortunately, some of it fits hand in glove with the EUs own deregulation agenda.

Hear me talk to my great colleagues Joana and Marcella about that in this podcast.

The fact that EU digital regulations are not mentioned in yesterday's deal between von der Leyen and Trump is no reason to sound the all-clear. On the contrary, digital rules like the DMA/DSA remain part of the bargaining chip. TIme to insist the EU should not sacrifice our laws in the trade dispute

There will be a broader EU environmental #Omnibus in October, according to Contexte, including not only the extended producer responsiblity EPR, but also inter alia the industrial emissions directive IED (one of the biggest achievements of the previous mandate). #Deregulation

The feud between Trump and Musk—and Musk’s move to create his own party—shouldn’t fool anyone: tech billionaires haven’t lost their grip on the Trump camp. We remain deeply concerned about US corporate lobbying against the Digital Markets Act. Europe must hold the line. #DMA

Can genAI start-ups really challenge #BigTech's dominance? 🧐

🔎 We analysed 12 start-ups' value chains and what we found is clear:

They're highly dependent on Big Tech companies, particularly Microsoft, Google, Amazon and Nvidia.

Read our full analysis: www.somo.nl/the-real-win...

Consumers must be at the heart of Europe's data strategy.

At this week's discussion on the Data Union Strategy with Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen, our Head of Digital Policy, Maryant Fernández Pérez, highlighted the need to strengthen trust, privacy and enforcement, not dilute them.

Europeans agree EU should enforce rules on Big Tech, says poll Only about 1 in 10 respondents to YouGov survey say Brussels should loosen its grip on U.S. tech giants.

Yougov survey shows Europeans want tougher EU enforcement on Big Tech: "It’s no surprise that there is a clear majority in favor of legislation like the DMA,” said German center-right lawmaker Andreas Schwab. “No one wants to be ripped off!” www.politico.eu/article/euro...

Poll suggests Europeans want tougher Big Tech EU enforcement French, German and Spanish participants to a YouGov survey called for stricter EU enforcements of digital regulations and consider Big Tech more powerful than the EU. #EuropeNews

New polls shows Europeans want tougher EU enforcement on Big Tech. We ask @marossefcovic.bsky.social to take this along to Washington to the negotiations with the US: Don't sacrifice EU tech rules.https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2025/07/03/europeans-want-tougher-eu-enforcement-of-big-tech-poll

🚨 NEW POLL: roughly TWICE as many people in France, Germany & Spain want the EU to break up Big Tech giants, as those who don't.

@ec.europa.eu will soon decide whether to dismantle Google's toxic adtech monopoly. Will it listen to EU citizens and #BreakUpBigTech?

peoplevsbig.tech/large-majori...

‼️In the @europarl.europa.eu a hearing is taking place on labour practices at Amazon.

Amazon refused the request to send senior management to the hearing.

Amazon's non-show is yet another sign that it won't face democratic scrutiny on its labour practices.

👉 corporateeurope.org/en/2025/06/l...

After no-show, unions call for tougher EU sanctions on Amazon Amazon has failed to show up in front of the European Parliament for the third time. UNI Europa demands tougher EU sanctions.

BREAKING: Amazon has failed to show up in front of the European Parliament for the third time. UNI Europa demands tougher EU sanctions. #MakeAmazonPay

Zollstreit: Digital Markets Act droht an Einflussgremium für Big Tech zu scheitern Wie aus einem Bericht des Handelsblatt hervorgeht, plant die EU weitreichende Zugeständnisse an die US-Regierung bei der Durchsetzung ihrer Digitalgesetze. Demnach soll ein Gremium eingerichtet werden...

Our press release on how the DMA could fail to a new influence body for Big Tech: www.lobbycontrol.de/pressemittei...

Chancellor Merz & the German government must ensure in today's Council meeting in Brussels that the DMA is effectively enforced and not sacrificed in the tariff negotiations with the US. To enforce the DMA strongly is part of the coalition agreement. Merz should not breach the agreement. 3/

It is absolutely unacceptable to give US tech companies a say over democratically created EU laws. The EU should instead enforce its laws independently and consistently. 2/

According to Handelsblatt, the EU wants to make far-reaching concessions to the US government when it comes to enforcing its digital laws. A committee is to be set up in which US tech companies can have a say in the enforcement of the Digital Markets Act. 1👇/
www.handelsblatt.com/politik/inte...

Jetzt Appell unterschreiben: DMA wirksam machen! Google, Meta, Apple & Co. missbrauchen ihre Macht zum eigenen Vorteil. Damit die Regeln für Big Tech im Digitalmarktgesetz DMA wirksam werden, braucht es Geld und Personal!

We continue to advocate for strong and consistent enforcement of the DMA to limit Big Tech's power. If you want to support this, sign now for a strong DMA. www.lobbycontrol.de/macht-der-di... 5/

DMA workshops DMA stakeholders workshops

In case you are interested to contribute to the workshops, it is still possible to register for some of them here: digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/events/works... 4/

These are the transparency measures that the EU Commission has implemented at our suggestion:
- Mandatory disclosure of links to Big Tech at workshop registration
- Request to all speakers at the workshop to disclose their links to Big Tech at the beginning of their speech, if applicable 3/

Following our criticism, the Commission is now insisting that all participants in the workshops disclose any links to tech companies. In this way, it can prevent opaque, one-sided influence. This is a success for transparency in the EU! 2/

To enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European Commission is again organizing public workshops to gather feedback from businesses & consumers affected by the power of Big Tech. The workshops are an important tool to include citizens' voices in the enforcement of EU laws. 1/

The price of special advice Follow the Money - Platform for investigative journalism

The Commission's former chief competition economist Régibeau has recently joined Analysis Group, an economic consultancy that assists corporations in competition cases. Régibeau's move raises questions about the Commission's measures to prevent conflicts of interest. www.ftm.eu/newsletters/...

Today, we went to Brussels with more than 116.000 signatures to demand a break-up of Google's monopoly power. With signing our petition, EU citizens have sent a clear signal to Competition Commissioner Ribera: The EU's competition authority should go for a break-up in its ongoing Google-Adtech case.

Economic consultancies are involved in lobbying. Thus, they should be in the transparency register. @corporateeurope.org has filed a complaint about RBB Economics absence in the transparency register. We hope RBB will disclose its lobbying activities soon!

Jetzt Appell unterschreiben: Google zerschlagen! Google missbraucht seine Monopolstellung und beutet unsere Daten aus. Die EU kann den Konzern zerschlagen und damit unsere Demokratie schützen!

Jointly, we will build up pressure, so the EU acts and breaks up Google. We call for decisive action to reclaim a free, open and democratic internet. Let’s get this going together! www.lobbycontrol.de/macht-der-di... 3/

Our joint petition with @rebalance-now.bsky.social gains increasing support, including from other organisations. Among the supporters are: @algorithmwatch.org, @balancedeconomy.bsky.social, Digitalcourage, @goliathwatch.bsky.social, @openmarkets.bsky.social and taxmenow. 2/

Google is too powerful. The tech monopoly abuses its market power and undermines diversity and democracy in the internet and beyond. The EU is able to do something against that. Europe can and should break up Google! 1/