Trump, tech and transatlantic Turbulence

It is the world turned upside down. The Trump administration is warming up to historic enemies, starting with Russia, while taking a hard line with allies such as Mexico, Canada, Ukraine, and the EU. Europeans, in response, are questioning the survival of the transatlantic alliance, the backbone of the post–Second World War era. Although the divide centres on security, conflicts over tech and trade are mounting. The EU is racing ahead with strict rules designed to break up US tech ‘gatekeepers’, regulate social networks and ensure the safety of artificial intelligence. The US is sprinting in the opposite direction, promoting unbridled free speech, aggressive deregulation and destructive tariffs. China could end up the big winner. As transatlantic ties frazzle, Europe could close the door to US tech and become dependent on Beijing. China’s recent launch of a powerful, low-cost artificial intelligence model makes it a potential partner. The US, in turn, is jeopardising its biggest export market. Both Brussels and Washington must move back from the precipice. For Europe, the path forward means embracing tech, including US tech, not fighting it. For the US, it means allowing Europeans to regulate without threatening disastrous retaliation. And for those in Silicon Valley, the best strategy is to stay neutral and work as peacemakers, avoiding the temptation to side with Washington against Europe.