Europe Squares Up to Big Tech, Risking Ire of Washington

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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.

Adani Bets $100 Billion on Data Centres to Power India’s AI Ambitions

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Adani Enterprises has announced plans to invest $100 billion in renewable-powered, AI-ready data centres by 2035, marking a major step in India’s push to become a key player in the global artificial intelligence landscape.

The investment aims to build a network of data centres designed to support large-scale AI computing, while integrating renewable energy and resilient power infrastructure. The company expects this initiative to stimulate an additional $150 billion in related sectors such as server manufacturing and sovereign cloud services, potentially creating a $250 billion AI infrastructure ecosystem over the next decade.

India has recently seen increased spending in AI infrastructure from global technology companies including Google, Amazon, Meta and Microsoft, alongside domestic firms such as Reliance and TCS. Analysts view data centres as India’s most viable path to gaining influence in the AI economy, given its limited presence in semiconductor manufacturing.

Adani plans to expand its existing 2 gigawatts of data centre capacity to 5 gigawatts, positioning itself to build one of the world’s largest integrated platforms for AI operations. The group will also invest $55 billion in renewable energy expansion, including large-scale battery storage systems.

The company is already collaborating with Google on an AI data centre project and will expand its partnership with Flipkart to develop another facility. Discussions with additional partners are ongoing.

Cadence Beats Quarterly Profit and Revenue Estimates on Strong AI-Linked Demand

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Cadence Design Systems exceeded both revenue and profit expectations in the fourth quarter, driven by growing demand for advanced artificial intelligence chip development tools.

The company, which provides specialized software for designing complex semiconductor systems, reported quarterly revenue of $1.44 billion, marking a 6.2% year-on-year increase. This surpassed analyst expectations of $1.42 billion. Adjusted earnings reached $1.99 per share, also beating forecasts.

Rising demand for AI-capable chips has significantly boosted the need for Cadence’s design solutions, which enable companies to create and test intricate processors used in high-performance computing environments. Its tools are essential for mapping circuit architecture and detecting potential thermal or electrical issues.

Chief Financial Officer John Wall highlighted record contract bookings in the fourth quarter, resulting in a backlog of $7.8 billion in future work. This positions the company with strong momentum entering 2026.

Cadence recently introduced a virtual AI agent designed to accelerate chip development processes, supporting major clients such as Nvidia in designing next-generation processors. The innovation reflects the growing strategic importance of chip design in global technology competition.

Looking ahead, Cadence expects 2026 revenue to reach between $5.9 billion and $6.0 billion, in line with market expectations.