Europe pulls the power of Big Tech

The European Union has launched a new control of digital giants, such as Apple, Snapchat and YouTube for the safety of children on the internet, as Britain moved to tighten Google’s strong search business in an expanded worldwide repression of Big Tech.

The European Commission on Friday requested detailed explanations from important platforms on how they protect minors from harmful and illegal content, as 25 of the 27 block states expressed support for exploration of restrictions throughout the mainland to access social media.

Inspired by Australia’s recent move to ban under 16 years of social platforms, Brussels are studying whether they will impose similar boundaries across the EU. Only Belgium and Estonia have withheld the support, with the latter arguing that “digital education” were “more effective”.

EU Tech Henna Virkkunen chief said the block was “strict enforcement” in accordance with the Digital Services Act (DSA), warning that “privacy, security and security must be secured and this is not always the case”.

As part of the ongoing “exploratory actions”, the Commission has sent official requests for information on Snapchat, Apple and Google. Officials have asked Snapchat to explain which assurances have to prevent access from users under the age of 13 and to limit the sale of drugs and products accurately through the application.

Apple’s App Store and Google Play were asked to analyze in detail how they limit minors from taking inappropriate or illegal software-including gambling applications or so-called “Nudify” tools used to create non-consensual sexual images. Brussels also requested information on how both companies apply age assessments and impose parental controls.

While these requests do not amount to crime categories, they can lead to complete detectors and possible fines if DSA violations are revealed. Snapchat said he was “deeply committed to securing security” and had already created tools to reduce the risks for new users.

YouTube, which belongs to Google Parent Alphabet, has been invited to clarify how the recommendation algorithm filters harmful content for minors following reports that the inappropriate material reached the public under age. Google said it has offered “strong parental controls and protection for younger users” and will “continue to expand” its guarantees.

Meanwhile, the EU is continuing separate research on Meta’s Facebook and Instagram and China’s Tiktok on claims that their platforms are taking advantage of the addictive design characteristics to keep children involved.

In a relative impulse, EU telecommunications ministers met in Denmark to discuss new age verification mechanisms. The chairman of the Ursula von der Leyen committee personally supports the idea of ​​a major majority digital era and has set up a team of experts to examine the proposal.

Twenty -five countries, united with Norway and Iceland, signed a statement supporting the initiative, citing a “pressing need” to protect minors from electronic exploitation and manipulation. Belgium refused to sign the joint statement, saying that it wanted to remain open to different policy tools.

Estonia openly criticized possible bans, stressing that empowerment through education was a more viable strategy. However, Denmark and France are proceeding with national measures to prohibit the use of social media for the under 15 years, reflecting the growing political impulse behind the legislation to protect children throughout Europe.

In London, Britain’s Competition and Market Authority (CMA) took its own swing in the Big Tech, officially describing Google as a “strategic market status” (SMS) in the electronic search-a move that paves the way for a tougher, personalized US giant regulation.

After a nine -month survey, CMA concluded that Google holds a “meaningful and established market power”, controlling more than 90% of the UK searches. Characterization allows regulators to impose adaptation obligations to promote competition and prevent abuse of sovereignty.

“We have found that Google is maintaining a strategic position in the field of search and search advertising,” said Will Hayter, CMA’s executive director for digital markets. More than 200,000 UK companies are based on Google’s advertising tools and regulators say that the strongest competition could eventually reduce costs throughout the economy.

Google has warned against “unjustified burdensome regulations”, arguing that restrictive measures could prevent innovation and slow product launches in Britain. “Many of the ideas that will lift will inhibit the UK innovation and development,” said Oliver Bethell, Google’s senior director of competition.

She added that Britain’s relative transparency had allowed her to benefit from timely access to Google’s latest services. CMA said Google’s new Gemini AI assistant will not be included in the definition yet, but will remain in a review.

Other AI -based search features will fall into the new situation. The regulator will consult this year on specific rules on the enforcement of the SMS regime, similar to the scope of the EU digital market law (DMA), which threatens heavy fines for repeated offenders.

Google and Apple are also in parallel research to determine whether the control of mobile ecosystems – including applications and payment systems – guarantees further SMS name.

Twin movements from Brussels and London signal a peratlantic consensus complex that technological giants should face stronger accountability – either protect children or secure fair competition.

As Brussels examines the treatment of the digital world of minors and London in market dominance, both sides of the channel appear united on one front: the age of unmistakable technology ends at the end.