A few days ago one of the fundamental assumptions underpinning European security was put in doubt – writes Stavros Papagianneas.
Trump’s election victory and the new agenda changed the calculations of world leaders with far-reaching consequences. The summit on Ukraine convened today by President Emmanuel Macron in Paris shows that the European Union is no longer adapted to the new era opened during the last few days. Under Trump, the United States declared a non-consensual divorce between America and Europe.
Europe has been caught in the most complex crisis since WW II. Once the world’s bastion of liberal, democratic values, Europe has to confront demons it thought it had laid to rest. The old pathologies of antisemitism, populist nationalism, and territorial aggression are threatening to tear the European postwar consensus apart. The American appeasing of Russian dictator Putin makes things more complicated and will most probably lead to more wars globally.
Earlier this year, Mark Zuckerberg announced that fact-checking will soon be a thing of the past on Facebook and Instagram. This means everyone must learn how to find real information on social media. All sorts of conspiracy theories, hoaxes, fake news and rumours are now totally legal, even though they can cause harm.
The end of fact-checking puts democracy at risk. In an age of misinformation, facts suffer. During the January session, the European Parliament members debated the influence that large tech companies have on our societies today. It seems that left-wing and right-wing parties can not agree on the exact definition of freedom of speech.
The rise of tech giants has challenged the rule of law and regulatory frameworks in many regions, including the EU. These companies, such as Tesla, Google, Apple and Meta, often operate across borders, making it difficult for individual nations to regulate them effectively. This has led to concerns about their influence over markets, political processes, and personal data and their ability to evade certain legal restrictions.
The EU has been proactive in trying to regulate big tech through initiatives like the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and, more recently, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA). However, enforcement is complex, and tech giants often have the resources to push back, delay, or navigate around regulations. This can undermine the effectiveness of EU laws and create a sense of unequal treatment, especially if smaller companies are subject to stricter rules.
Many big tech companies gather vast amounts of data about their users, raising concerns over privacy and surveillance. The EU has strict rules about data protection, but enforcement can be inconsistent, especially when tech giants operate in multiple jurisdictions. If their data practices are not effectively regulated, these companies could erode individual privacy rights or undermine the autonomy of EU citizens.
Given their global reach and influence, tech giants wield significant geopolitical power. Some argue that these companies can undermine EU sovereignty by prioritizing business interests over national or EU-level policies. Their ability to influence public opinion by disseminating hostile propaganda and disinformation through platforms like social media, raises concerns about their impact on democratic processes and governance within the EU.
However, what is happening today has happened before. All the phenomena we see around us today have happened before – perhaps in a slightly different way, with slightly different consequences, with different means, on a different scale, but the same.
Politicians and opinion leaders squealing about the dangers of immigration? It has been done before. Super-rich oligarchs who turn out to be racists and supporters of authoritarian regimes? We have seen it before. Crooks spread extreme, unscientific lies and propaganda to the vulnerable masses – it happened before.
A leader who constantly lies, repeats the same catchy phrases over and over again, attacks the media, and demands total submission and loyalty? Nothing original, all dictators did the same. Victor Klemperer has described all these tricks in detail almost seventy years ago. And what about all those everyday citizens who suddenly fall victim to such leaders, unbelievable conspiracy theories and rampant scaremongering
In 2017, Timothy Snyder published “On Tyranny.” The book describes what 20th-century history teaches us about authoritarianism and the dangers that threaten democracy. The author, horrified by Trump’s first election, explains the similarities between the MAGA movement and the fascist movements of the 20th century in their messages, behaviours, promises, and rhetoric. As he writes, “Americans are no wiser than the Europeans who saw democracy yield to fascism, Nazism and communism. Our one advantage is that we might learn from their experience.” Yet to be confirmed.
STAVROS PAPAGIANNEAS
Stavros Papagianneas is the author of the books Saving Your Reputation in the Digital Age (2020), Embracing Chaos (2021) and Rebranding Europe 2024 . He is currently the managing director of StP Communications and the founder of Steps4Europe. He has also been a member of the Working Party on Information of the Council of the European Union.
