EU Commissioner engages tech giants in Silicon Valley on digital regulation and online safety

By:  Nana Appiah Acquaye

European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, Michael McGrath, has concluded a series of high-level meetings with leading technology companies in Silicon Valley, focusing on digital regulation, online safety, and emerging technologies.

During his visit, McGrath held discussions with senior executives at Meta, Google, and Apple to gain insights into evolving digital markets and technological developments.

At Meta, talks centred on the European Union’s forthcoming Digital Fairness Act, with particular attention to tackling harmful online practices such as manipulative design features and addressing risks associated with addictive digital platforms. Discussions also explored measures to enhance the protection of minors online.

Engagements with Google focused on regulatory simplification efforts within the European Union, including recent legislative updates, as well as collaboration on safeguarding electoral integrity and improving protections for younger users in digital environments.

At Apple, the Commissioner emphasised the importance of shared responsibility in online child protection, noting that technology platforms should complement, rather than replace, parental oversight. The discussions also examined how regulatory frameworks can balance user protection with continued innovation.

Across all meetings, a central theme was the need for coordinated action between governments and technology companies to embed safety considerations into both product design and policymaking.

McGrath noted that the visit reinforced the importance of transatlantic cooperation between the European Union and the United States in addressing shared digital challenges, while acknowledging that differences in approach may persist.

The mission forms part of ongoing EU efforts to strengthen its regulatory framework for the digital economy while engaging global industry leaders on key policy priorities.