EU digital rules are fair, because they apply to everybody, says Henna Virkkunen

EU presses on with digital laws despite opposition from the US

At a time when disinformation and interference in democracies have proliferated globally, the EU's Digital Services (DSA) and Digital Markets Acts (DMA) are designed to protect online freedom of expression and not to limit it, the European Commission Vice-President for technology and democracy has insisted in the face of US criticism.

"When we look at our society or our economy in the European Union, we want to make sure that our digital environment is safe, fair, and democratic," said Henna Virkkunen.

Recently, both the DSA and DMA have faced criticism, notably from Elon Musk, a prominent advisor to Donald Trump. However, Virkkunen maintains that the laws are fair and equitable. "Our rules are very fair, because they are the same rules for everybody who is operating and doing business in the European Union. So, we have the same rules for European companies, American companies, and Chinese companies," Virkkunen said.

The vice-president also underscored the importance of transparency and open civic discourse when regulating content. "The user knows why certain content is shown to them, and the user must also have the possibility to choose," she added.

Currently, there are ten ongoing investigations into large online platforms, with Virkkunen’s department scrutinising whether companies like X, TikTok, and Meta are adhering to the regulations.

Virkkunen is clear that she is not targeting individuals or restricting free speech but rather ensuring that all players comply with EU rules. Most of these digital platforms are cooperating with the European Commission, due to the importance of the European market, she said, adding: "We are just setting obligations for online platforms to ensure they have practices in place to mitigate and assess systematic risks. We are not regulating the content at all."

Disinformation campaigns in elections

Disinformation campaigns during elections remain another key focus for Virkkunen. A recent investigation in Romania, for example, uncovered potential use of paid bots on TikTok to boost a nationalist presidential candidate. Virkkunen stressed the importance of preparing for elections in collaboration with national authorities and online platforms. "We need to ensure that platforms are not misused or manipulated, and that they remain transparent during the electoral processes," she argued.

Despite strong opposition from tech mogul Elon Musk, who has been vocal about the Romanian elections, calling it an "intimidation campaign," Virkkunen remains confident that the EU will continue to push forward with the DSA and DMA. "We want to make sure that the big players are not dominating the market or misusing their market power," she stated.

Internal security

On the issue of internal security, Virkkunen acknowledged that there are numerous potential threats to prepare for. "We have to be prepared for many, many different kinds of threats. That’s why we must closely cooperate together," she concluded.

The European Commission has just presented a new Strategy called ProtectEU aimed at enhancing EU resilience against hybrid threats by protecting critical infrastructure, reinforcing cybersecurity and combatting online threats.