The European Union will review technology investigations into Apple, Google and Meta

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Brussels is reassessing its investigation into tech giants including Apple, Meta and Google, as US groups urge President-elect Donald Trump to intervene in what he says is EU zealotry.

The review could lead to the European Commission going back or changing the course of the investigation, which covers all cases launched since March last year. European Union Digital Market RegulationsAccording to two officials on the move.

It comes as the Brussels body begins a new five-year term and tackles major issues, and as Trump prepares to return to the White House next week.

“It will be a whole new ball game with these. Technology The oligarchs are very close to Trump and use that to put pressure on him, a senior EU diplomat said in the review. “So much is up in the air right now.”

When the review is completed, all decisions and possible penalties will be suspended, but technical work on the cases will continue, the officials said.

Some of the investigations under review are in their early stages, while others are more advanced. He was expected to be indicted last year in an investigation into whether he supported the Google App Store.

Two other EU officials said Brussels regulators were waiting for political direction to take final decisions on the Google, Apple and Meta cases.

The review prompted EU lawmakers to call on the Commission to stand up to US pressure, while Silicon Valley bosses hailed Trump’s return as ushering in an era of easier tech regulation.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg urged the president-elect on Friday to stop punishing US tech companies, saying EU regulators have forced them to pay “more than $30 billion” in fines over the past 20 years.

Zuckerberg recently announced the plan Cancel the reality check With Facebook and Instagram – which may violate EU laws – I am sure that the incoming Trump administration will seek to protect America’s foreign interests.

The implications of Trump’s presidency were a factor in the assessment, one of the officials said, adding that the victory was not a trigger for the outcome.

The commission said it is “fully committed to making the rules effective.” “There is no delay in completing the open non-compliance cases, and in particular not because of any political considerations,” an EU spokesman said.

The ongoing cases are “technically not yet ready”, the spokesman added, arguing that such investigations are complex, new and “need to ensure that the Commission’s decisions are legally robust” and take time.

Before Trump’s victory, EU regulators had been cracking down on big tech groups to open up markets and introduce a regulatory framework for Big Tech.

Brussels launched investigations into Apple, Google and Meta last March under the Digital Markets Act, a law that seeks to curb market abuse by large platforms.

In a bid to curb tech billionaire Elon Musk’s growing influence in European affairs, the Commission has pressed to use the full powers of the Digital Services Act, rules aimed at protecting online content.

In addition to a similar investigation into Google-owned Alphabet, the commission has been looking into whether Apple would choose its own App Store, as well as Facebook-owned Meta’s use of personal data for advertising.

Brussels is consulting Apple rivals on the tech giant’s proposal to make its iOS operating system compatible with connected devices.

Denmark’s Margrethe Vesteger and France’s Thierry Breton, who have taken a strong stance against American technology companies, resigned from the commission in November.

“Priorities may be shifting,” said one. “(The digital regulations) came from the previous commission.”

EU lawmakers have asked regulators to remain firm. MEP Stéphanie Yon-Courtin, who was involved in drafting the technology laws, said EU investigations could not be sacrificed to avoid a diplomatic fallout.

In a letter to Ursula von der Leyen, commission president Yon-Courtin said the DMA “cannot be arrested”.

“Please assure me without delay that your cabinet and yourself will fully support the effective implementation of the DMA,” she added.