The introduction of European rules to limit the power of large tech companies such as Facebook and Google mother Alphabet risks running late. This is because policy makers do not agree on how this should be done. This is what the British business newspaper Financial Times writes.
The proposed rules on digital services and digital markets to limit the power of the so-called ‘Big Tech’ and clarify responsibilities are considered urgent by Brussels. This is because there is a fear that the companies have become too powerful.
Margrethe Vestager, EU Commissioner for competition, hopes that the European Parliament, the member states and the European Commission can reach an agreement in the spring of 2022. Last week, it again urged members of the European Parliament to speed up the adoption of the legislation.
However, several committees of the European Parliament are arguing about who will lead the debate on the proposals before MEPs vote on the legislation, according to the newspaper. There is still no clear winner, although some legislators expect a final decision later this month.
Vestager reacts a bit irritated here and there. She recently said to the members of the European Parliament: ‘I hope you feel the same urgency as I do.”They also mention “a wake-up call is without the snooze feature”.
Some EU member states have expressed their concern at Parliament’s procrastination. MEPs are urged to “move forward rapidly” on the implementation of the legislation. Brussels published the draft proposals in December.
Meanwhile, France and Germany are working on their own legislative agenda to curb Big Tech. In doing so, they undermine Brussels’ commitment to a single block-wide regulation, because they are trying to regulate Big Tech rather than Brussels.