Lyons 1

Europe Takes on the Tech Giants: To understand the

future of Silicon Valley, cross the Atlantic
The Editorial Board
The Economist Magazine
March 23, 2019
Page 9

Bella Lyons
Mr. O’Grady
Contemporary World Issues
April 11, 2019
 Lyons 2

Throughout America’s history, our world has constantly been reshaping and redefining

American technology. Our country has 15 of the 20 tech firms in the world today, proving how

technologically advanced we truly are. However, other countries like Brussels, Berlin, and

Europe each own a tech firm as well. These countries are not only advanced in their technology,

but have the smartest of the smart living there, and not to mention, a lot of money as well.

Companies around the world and in all of these countries are also using their money in a smart

manner. For instance, Google made 1.7 Billion dollars in their advertising market, emphasizing

the fact that many people know business and how to manage their money well. However, as the

technological industry continues to expand quickly, this can lead to distrust between not only

nations, but companies as well. In an attempt to create more trust between people and

technology, the EU is creating a tech doctrine that will give people control over their own

information, and if this works, it could boost the economy and restrain “tech giants” who have

gathered an insane amount of power from technology. EU will now be taking on these tech

giants and trying to determine an answer to many questions including, “who controls the data”

and “How should the profits be distributed?” (9). Many people are concerned with Europe’s

decision to take on this mission because they view it as an entrepreneurial wasteland. However,

Europe’s main approach in this is to first decide what not to do so that they do not completely cut

ties with the tech giants. Europe’s doctrine has two approaches to it, the first one being that

people deserve privacy over their own data and things. Second is that technology rivals must use

equal treatment for those who use their platforms. Overall, Europe’s approach offers a new hope

to many out there who wish to keep their data private without feeling watched or manipulated.

Although the European approach has many risks, this could lead to success in the end due to the

fact that since their idea is not adopted anywhere else, countries like America may want to copy
 Lyons 3

it, allowing for the idea of the Europeans to live on successfully.