Digital Europe vs. the US model: resist or give in?
Digital Europe vs. the US model: resist or give in?
Science & Technology

Wed. April 23, 5:00PM

Digital Europe vs. the US model: resist or give in?

Can Europe defend its values in the face of Big Tech pressure? 

Manipulative algorithms increasingly shape our online lives, often amplifying illegal content such as hate speech, racism, antisemitism, and other harmful ideologies. In response, the European Union has acted. The Digital Services Act (DSA) and the Digital Markets Act (DMA), both in force since early 2024, aim to establish a distinctly European approach to regulating digital platforms - one that protects users’ rights, ensures fair competition, and creates a safer digital environment.


But this model is now facing strong resistance. US tech giants, backed by the Trump administration, are pushing to assert their own economic rules and value systems in Europe. The question is urgent: Can Europe resist this pressure and define its own digital future?


This question will be at the heart of a debate between Thierry Breton, former EU Commissioner for Internal Market and Services, Nathalie Loiseau, Member of the European Parliament and Chair of the Special Committee on the European Democratic Shield, and Bruno Colmant, economist. The discussion will be moderated by Benoît Frydman, legal philosopher and professor at the Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB).


This event is an initiative of LICRA Belgique.


©LibertiesEU

speaker

Nathalie Loiseau

Nathalie Loiseau is Chair of the European Parliament's Special Committee on the EU Democratic Shield (EUDS) and coordinator of the Renew Europe Group within the Security and Defence Committee (SEDE), which she chaired during the 9th legislature of the European Parliament. She is also a member of the Foreign Affairs Committees (AFET) and First Vice-Chair of the Delegation for relations with the South Caucasus. Between 2020 and 2023, she was a member of the special committee on foreign interference in electoral processes, including disinformation (INGE) and, between 2020 and 2024, she chaired the European Parliament delegation to the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. In 2019, she led the Renaissance list in the European elections. Minister for European Affairs in the French government from 2017 to 2019, she was dean of the École Nationale d'Administration (ENA) for five years, from 2012 to 2017, and a diplomat in the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

speaker

Thierry Breton

Thierry Breton, born in 1955, is a French business leader and politician. A graduate of Supélec, he has headed a number of major companies, including Thomson, France Télécom and Atos. From 2005 to 2007, he was Minister for the Economy under Jacques Chirac. In 2019, he became European Commissioner for the Internal Market, responsible for digital, industry and defence. He is the driving force behind the policy of regulating digital services. He is also a writer, author of several books on technology and geopolitics.

speaker

Bruno Colmant

Bruno Colmant is a renowned Belgian economist, born in 1961. He has a doctorate in applied economics and several degrees in finance, including from HEC Paris and the NYU Stern School of Business. A specialist in financial markets, he has held senior positions at major institutions such as ING, Roland Berger and the Brussels Stock Exchange, where he was CEO. He was also head of cabinet for Finance Minister Didier Reynders in 2006. A professor at several Belgian universities (UCLouvain, Vlerick, ICHEC), he is known for his ability to popularise economics in the media. He has published numerous books and articles on economics, taxation and finance. He was also a member of the management committee of Bank Degroof Petercam. His approach combines academic rigour with a critical eye. His analysis of the evolution of social networks is likely to enlighten the debate.
Start
Wed. April 23, 5:00PM
End
Wed. April 23, 8:00PM
Format
TheMerode Talks
Language
French (BE) / Français (BE)
Guest allowed?
Yes, 1 per member

Address

Event
Place Poelaert, 6
1000 Brussels
Belgium
Parking
Parking Poelaert, Place Poelaert 1000 Brussels

Detailed programme

Welcome
Wed. April 23, 5:00PM
Keynotes and debate
Wed. April 23, 5:30PM
Networking
Wed. April 23, 7:00PM
End
Wed. April 23, 8:00PM

Past Event