Europe Squares Up to Big Tech, Risking Ire of Washington

European governments are intensifying scrutiny of major social media platforms, responding to mounting public concerns over child safety and harmful online content. The move reflects a broader push to regulate digital platforms but risks escalating tensions with the United States, where many of these companies are headquartered.

Spain recently ordered prosecutors to investigate Meta, X and TikTok over the alleged spread of AI-generated child sexual images. Ireland has also opened an inquiry into X’s AI chatbot Grok over its handling of personal data and potential to generate harmful sexualised content.

Several European countries including France, Spain, Greece, Denmark, Slovenia and the Czech Republic are now considering restrictions on social media use by adolescents. Germany and the United Kingdom are exploring similar measures, citing growing worries about online addiction, abuse and declining academic performance.

These national initiatives highlight frustration among policymakers who believe EU-level responses may be too slow. Under the Digital Services Act, platforms can face fines of up to 6% of global annual turnover if they fail to tackle illegal content. However, enforcement remains politically sensitive.

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned of potential tariffs or sanctions if European regulations disproportionately affect American technology firms. Meanwhile, EU officials maintain that the bloc is acting to safeguard democratic systems and ensure responsible technology use.

Some European leaders have framed the regulatory push as part of a broader effort to reduce digital dependence on foreign platforms and strengthen regional technological sovereignty.