On January 16, four days before Donald Trump’s inauguration, two significant events occurred that bring hope. The first event was a complaint filed under the new Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act, prohibiting the transfer or sale of sensitive data of U.S. individuals to foreign adversaries. The complaint exposed the risks posed by RTB, a system sharing private information that could lead to blackmail or compromise. On average, Americans are unknowingly providing 750 valuable data items daily to RTB, accessible to anyone willing to pay, including adversarial governments like North Korea, China, or Russia. Despite knowing about these security flaws for over a decade, Google has continued this practice to bolster its advertising revenues, which likely exceeded $250 billion last year.
The second event on January 16 involved 18 former European presidents and prime ministers publishing a powerful letter urging the European Commission to dismantle Google’s monopolized advertising business. They emphasized the threat these tech platforms pose to independence and law enforcement efforts, advocating for a breakup to reclaim control over crucial digital infrastructure. This solidarity between hundreds of millions of Europeans and Americans signifies a united front against tech giants like Google. Collaboration between U.S. and European regulators in combating Big Tech has been ongoing, despite the disruptive influence of Trump’s administration.
Prior to Trump’s inauguration, members of his administration had already issued aggressive threats towards the European Union, signaling a tumultuous relationship ahead. Musk and Vance, linked to Silicon Valley, made ominous statements hinting at potential withdrawals of support to Europe under varying circumstances. Trump’s administration’s ambiguity regarding military actions further heightened tensions with Denmark, Canada, and other European nations. The uncertainty surrounding Trump’s governance poses challenges to longstanding geopolitical stability, exacerbating concerns over potential exploitation by oligarchs and right-wing extremists.
Amidst these uncertainties, a positive perspective emerges when viewing the narrative of economic conflict as a global struggle between ordinary individuals and globalized billionaires. This shift in perspective opens avenues for transnational collaboration and alliances to address rising corporate power. By collectively confronting monopolistic practices and surveillance capitalism, a basis for global cooperation and mutual benefit can emerge, transcending traditional divides and aligning diverse groups and interests for a common cause.
