In a landscape increasingly defined by the influence of social media, significant differences have emerged between the United States and the European Union regarding digital governance.
As Washington pushes to divest TikTok’s American operations from ByteDance, its China-linked parent company, the EU is immersed in the implementation of its Digital Services Act (DSA).
The U.S. government’s proposed $14 billion initiative aims to place TikTok in the hands of U.S. investors, a move driven by national security concerns.
A White House executive order has highlighted intentions to ensure American oversight of one of the nation’s most popular social media platforms, asserting that the measure is necessary to protect users from potential risks associated with China.
In stark contrast, the EU’s DSA focuses on comprehensive investigations into how major platforms, including TikTok, handle fundamental rights and illegal content.
Despite its initial emphasis on holding U.S. firms accountable, the DSA has predominantly investigated Chinese companies like Temu and AliExpress in its early stages.
The divergence in approaches stems from fundamentally different objectives set by U.S. and EU officials.
For the U.S., the primary goal revolves around undermining a perceived geopolitical rival in China, as lawmakers express concerns that Beijing could exploit TikTok to disseminate propaganda and gather sensitive data on American citizens.
ByteDance has consistently denied these allegations.
In contrast, the EU’s approach is grounded in accountability—seeking to ensure that powerful digital platforms adhere to internal trust and safety policies.
Results, however, have been less than favorable for Brussels, which has faced challenges in enforcing its regulatory framework.
Washington’s strategy appears to be yielding more successful outcomes. Though details of the TikTok deal remain sparse, President Donald Trump has stated that billionaire investors, including Oracle’s Larry Ellison, would play pivotal roles in the new corporate schema, reducing ByteDance’s ownership to under 20 percent.
“This is going to be American operated all the way,” President Trump asserted.
If the proposed divestiture results in successful completion, the U.S. government would have effectively claimed control over a social media platform utilized by 170 million Americans.
This move would not only reshape the ownership structure of TikTok but also send a clear signal to Beijing about the U.S. intent to manage social media’s influence, despite lingering uncertainties about the ownership of TikTok’s underlying content algorithms.
Conversely, the EU’s DSA has struggled to realize its vision.
Two years into the DSA’s enforcement, many view it as more aspirational than decisively regulatory in nature.
The bloc has faced difficulties in implementing its provisions, often characterized by a lack of momentum and enforcement.
Thierry Breton, the former European Commissioner responsible for rolling out the DSA, has faced scrutiny for the manner in which initial investigations were conducted.
Moreover, his involvement in discussions related to Elon Musk and Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election fueled speculation that the DSA could be construed as an attempt to suppress free speech in the U.S.
Practical consequences of the DSA have also fallen short of its stated objectives.
Major tech entities such as Meta and Alphabet have curtailed commitments related to fact-checking under the DSA, weakening the intended safeguards.
Similarly, X has restricted access to its publicly available data for external researchers, further complicating accountability efforts.
Reports indicate that rates of illegal content, foreign interference, and online hate remain alarmingly high, despite substantial financial investments from the European Commission aimed at enforcing adherence to the DSA.
Critics have pointed out that numerous American social media companies have echoed assertions from Washington, arguing that international online safety regulations, particularly those emanating from the EU, serve as unjust barriers to trade and encroach upon U.S. free speech rights.
This transatlantic scenario positions Washington seemingly ahead in its strategies to exert control over social media.
While the U.S. remains focused primarily on national security considerations, the EU seeks to balance transparency with accountability for global platforms.
The U.S. approach, framed within a context of realpolitik that recognizes the geopolitical stakes involved, stands in contrast to Europe’s ambition to craft a regulatory Third Way that distinguishes itself from China’s authoritarian regime and the more laissez-faire attitude of the U.S.
Thus, as Washington moves closer to finalizing its $14 billion divestiture of TikTok, it reflects a bipartisan agreement on confronting what is perceived as an existential threat to national security emanating from China.
Meanwhile, the EU continues to find it challenging to set a precedent for effective regulation of social media, underscoring the complexities of transatlantic digital governance.
image source from：techpolicy
