Meta’s Call to Arms: Enlisting Trump Against European Regulation
At the recent Munich Security Conference, Meta’s Chief of Global Affairs, Joel Kaplan, issued a veiled threat to EU policymakers: "We won’t shy away from getting President Donald Trump involved if we continue to face crackdowns at the hands of the European Union."
Kaplan’s statement signals a departure from Meta’s previous approach to international regulation. In the past, the company has primarily expressed its displeasure with penalties through legal challenges and public disputes. Now, however, it appears to be employing a new strategy: invoking the name of Trump as a deterrent against further scrutiny.
Meta’s decision to pivot towards a more confrontational stance is rooted in a series of recent setbacks in Europe. The European Union has imposed substantial fines on the company for violations of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and is conducting an ongoing investigation into Meta’s alleged failure to protect minors on its platform.
In response, Meta has taken a series of defensive measures, including opening up its Facebook Marketplace platform to third-party competitors in the EU following an antitrust fine. However, the company’s willingness to invoke Trump’s political influence suggests that it is increasingly frustrated with the regulatory landscape in Europe.
Kaplan’s threat to seek Trump’s intervention is particularly noteworthy in light of the former president’s own criticisms of the EU. During a speech at the World Economic Forum last month, Trump condemned EU fines against American companies, calling them "a form of taxation" and alleging "We have some very big complaints with the EU."
Meta’s decision to align itself with Trump on this issue may appear surprising at first glance. However, it is consistent with a pattern of increasing coziness between the social media giant and the former president.
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Zuckerberg has made a concerted effort to court Trump, visiting him at Mar-a-Lago and adjusting Facebook’s content moderation policies to be more favorable to the Trumpian agenda. Meta has also promoted Kaplan, a longtime Republican political operative, to a senior executive position.
Meta’s embrace of Trump’s rhetoric on EU regulation raises concerns about the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability. By invoking Trump’s name, Meta is essentially threatening to use his political influence to pressure regulators into backing down. This tactic undermines the integrity of the regulatory process and sets a dangerous precedent for corporate behavior.
Furthermore, Meta’s reliance on Trump’s support exposes the company to political risk. If Trump fails to regain power in 2024, Meta may find itself isolated and vulnerable to further regulatory penalties.
In conclusion, Meta’s decision to enlist Trump as a weapon against European regulation is a troubling development. It demonstrates the company’s willingness to sacrifice its reputation and integrity in order to avoid accountability for its actions. Meta’s behavior sets a dangerous precedent and should serve as a warning to other companies that attempt to use political influence to evade regulatory oversight.
