Re-elected President Trump is nominating a notorious critic of big tech companies to head the U.S. FCC. With that move, further antitrust investigations seem like a matter of time.
Re-elected President Donald Trump wants Brendan Carr to head the U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC). That appointment is important for how technology giants such as Google, Meta and Microsoft can behave. In Europe, such companies have long been the subject of antitrust investigations, while the U.S. has traditionally been more lenient. Recently, however, that changed, and with Carr, the hunt for “Big Tech” seems truly open.
The appointment offers rare clarity. Among other things, Trump wants to put a television host from his favorite show at the head of the Department of Defense and is pushing forward Matt Gaetz, suspected of human trafficking and sexual misconduct by Democrats and Republicans alike, as State Attorney General. What that means for policy is hard to predict.
Clear (political) mission
By contrast, Carr is an experienced regulator with a clear mission: fewer rules in general, more rules for the technology giants, and punishments for media and tech companies that he believes have a political bias. In doing so, we note that a pro-Trump preference is not under attack.
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Carr describes Apple, Meta, Google and Microsoft as a “censorship cartel” that must be dismantled. He seems intent on greatly expanding the FCC’s mandate to curb the power of the technology giants. Where the EU primarily regulates motivated by fair competition, however, the Americans face four years of politically motivated regulation.
Major impact
During Trump’s previous term, Ajit Pai was at the helm of the FCC. That showed then how the agency has the power to target the modal American, including by abolishing net neutrality. There is little reason to doubt that Carr will try to make the most of the FCC.
We previously analyzed what Trump’s victory would mean for the tech sector. In it, we noted that deregulation of AI is likely on the table, but that those plans do not imply that tech companies have a friend in the White House. It looks like the predicted four tough years for Google and consorts will come true.