‘Fatal decision’: EU slammed for caving to US pressure on digital rules

Yeah, it really feels like Brussels blinked first again. I’d love to see more MEPs actually explain their vote on this in plain language, transparency might at least sharpen backlash next time.

Unsurprisingly, the Americans will want to gut the law, riddling it with so many loopholes that it can be easily circumvented.

“slammed” – some random person complained with zero consequences

> EU lawmakers tore into the European Commission on Wednesday over its plans to open a “dialogue” with Washington on tech rules

Love it when the 1st paragraph of an article completely contradicts the title.

The EU didn’t “cave” on anything. And the EU wasn’t slammed either. One body of the EU made a bad decision that doesn’t mean anything, and another body of the EU called them out for it.

Critics say Brussels risks ceding control of its tech laws under U.S. pressure.

April 1, 2026 8:55 pm CET

By Milena Wälde

EU lawmakers tore into the European Commission on Wednesday over its plans to open a “dialogue” with Washington on tech rules, warning it risks opening a back door for the Trump administration into the EU’s flagship digital laws.

“[U.S. President Donald] Trump’s approval ratings are at a record low, his war against Iran is gutting the global economy. But instead of creating a sovereign path forward for Europe, [Commission President Ursula] von der Leyen kisses the ring time and again,” Greens lawmaker Alexandra Geese told POLITICO.

Allowing U.S. officials to take part in discussions on the Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), she added, would let “platforms … grade their own homework” — amounting to a “fatal decision for our companies and our democracy.”

The pushback comes after the Commission announced earlier on Wednesday that it is exploring a new EU-U.S. “dialogue” on digital rules, as Washington piles on the pressure over how Brussels enforces its laws on American tech giants.

“We are discussing with the U.S. to set up a dialogue to reinforce our cooperation on digital technologies and markets,” Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said, insisting the bloc’s rulebook “is not up for negotiation.”

But critics say the proposed dialogue undercuts that claim — and risks turning EU tech enforcement into a bargaining chip in broader trade discussions with Washington.

“The European Commission must immediately clarify whether this is actually happening. If confirmed, this is nothing short of complete capitulation to the Trump administration’s coercive tactics,” said Greens MEP Sergey Lagodinsky in a conversation with POLITICO, calling for EU-U.S. trade talks to be paused and the bloc’s anti-coercion instrument to be triggered.

Others warned the talks could weaken enforcement of landmark legislation designed to curb the power of Big Tech.

“No need to do this,” said liberal MEP Sandro Gozi. “The Commission must implement the DSA and DMA, not discuss them with the U.S. It’s a clear attempt to slow down implementation and weaken enforcement.”

In Berlin, lawmakers also voiced alarm. Hansjörg Durz, chair of Germany’s Digital Affairs Committee, warned any trade-off would be “highly problematic” and would risk undermining trust in EU enforcement. Greens MP Rebecca Lenhard said the bloc’s digital rules “must not become bargaining chips” in a tariff dispute with Washington.

The controversy comes as U.S. officials ramp up pressure on Brussels, with senior figures calling for changes to EU tech rules. The proposed dialogue — potentially involving U.S. participation in talks on enforcement — would mark a significant shift from the Commission’s long-standing position that its digital rulebook is non-negotiable.

*Eliza Gritski, Pieter Haeck and Larissa Kögl contributed to this report.*