Tech ally of Trump advocates for a joint effort among tech giants to combat internet safety regulations imposed by the UK and the EU
In a recent trip to Europe, Republican Senator Scott Fitzgerald, chair of the judiciary subcommittee and an ally of former President Donald Trump, raised the idea of a "united front" among US social media and tech giants to fight off regulation in Europe.
During the meetings, Fitzgerald asked Meta, the owner of Facebook, if the businesses were working together, but they wouldn't confirm that. He expressed concern about the potential dangers of the situation and expects to discuss it with the platforms and the White House.
The trip included meetings with the UK, EU, European member states, and big tech companies. The US social media giants, including Meta, Apple, and Microsoft, may collaborate to combat regulatory laws in Europe, as suggested by Senator Fitzgerald. However, as of early August 2025, these companies have not formally confirmed forming a united front to resist European regulation.
The broader US government interest is evident, with the White House reportedly paying attention to these regulatory challenges and possibly engaging in discussions with tech platforms. The impact of UK law on American companies was discussed during the meeting with UK Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
Jim Jordan, another Republican Senator and an ally of former President Trump, accused the UK government of trying to censor US tech companies during the riots that took place after the Southport killings. He shared emails obtained by the committee showing the UK government asking for information and wanting to know what was being done by the companies during the rioting. Jordan expressed concern about the UK government's attempts to interfere, stating that such an attempt would "chill speech".
The trip and the suggestions made by Scott Fitzgerald are not directly related to recent events such as former President Donald Trump's order to move two nuclear subs closer to Russia, Epstein abuse survivor Virginia Giuffre's desire for files to be released, or US officials visiting Gaza amid warnings of a 'politically manmade' famine.
However, the topic of social media regulation is related to the suggestions made by Scott Fitzgerald. A report by the UK Commons Science and Technology Committee found that social media business models incentivize the spread of damaging and dangerous content, and did so in a manner that endangered public safety in the hours and days following the Southport murders.
The ongoing discussions at political and corporate levels suggest that while a definitive and public "united front" among US social media and tech giants against European digital rules remains undeclared, it is a subject of strategic consideration and informal discussion. The situation remains dynamic, with the potential for further developments in the coming months.
[1] Source: TechCrunch, The Verge, The Guardian [2] Source: Reuters, Politico [3] Source: EU Observer, The Hill [4] Source: UK Commons Science and Technology Committee Report [5] Source: The New York Times, The Washington Post
- The ongoing discussions between US social media and tech giants, such as Meta, Apple, and Microsoft, suggest a strategic consideration to form a united front against potential digital regulations in Europe, as proposed by Republican Senator Scott Fitzgerald.
- The potential collaboration among tech companies to combat regulatory laws in Europe could extend beyond entertainment and general news, influencing areas like politics and social media, as demonstrated by the UK Commons Science and Technology Committee's findings regarding the incentivization of harmful content on social media.
