German minister issues tech warning

Germany's Economy Minister Robert Habeck has criticized Silicon Valley's control over Europe's digital sphere, calling for the European Union to break free from "tech oligarchs" such as Elon Musk, who he said are undermining democracy.

At a televised voter forum on Monday, ahead of Sunday's national election, the Greens' candidate for chancellor described Musk's influence as a direct threat to European principles, Politico reported.

Warning of the dangerous alliance between political and tech power, Habeck said, "The most powerful man in the world — the US president — and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, have teamed up to eliminate boundaries on power," referring to Musk's substantial role in Donald Trump's administration. "That cannot be in our interest."

Habeck stressed the urgency for the EU to build its own communication platforms to counter dependence on foreign tech companies such as X.

He slammed Musk's promotion of a "hypocritical vision of free speech" while guarding business models and algorithms as closely as "state secrets". Habeck cautioned that relying on platforms controlled by foreign interests puts European democracies at risk.

"They must be regulated," Habeck said. "If necessary, regulated in a way that aligns with our values."

Dismissing current European regulations as inadequate, Habeck asked, "Why don't we have a German or European communication platform of our own?"

The minister urged Europe to reassert control over its digital space, from social media to all industries where "technological leadership has left the continent". He insisted the window for action was just two years.

In recent years, European policymakers have intensified their efforts to reduce reliance on foreign tech giants. Concerns over data privacy, disinformation and economic competitiveness have driven calls for stricter regulations and greater digital sovereignty.

The EU introduced landmark legislation in November 2022, such as the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act, to curb Big Tech's power. However, some officials argue that regulatory measures alone are insufficient and advocate for direct European ownership of key digital platforms.

Habeck's concerns reflect mounting anxiety in Brussels over the influence of Big Tech.

Politico reported a proposed bold solution from Sergey Lagodinsky, a German member of the European Parliament for the Greens: EU acquisition of existing platforms rather than creating new ones.

His policy memo suggested Europe should consider buying the platforms' European operations to establish independence from foreign control.