EU Hits Back at Big Tech in 2025

December 18, 2025

📝Editor’s Note

Regulatory action against Big Tech in Europe is intensifying, not easing. Recent fines, transparency requirements, and enforcement of digital market rules show that compliance teams must prepare for stricter oversight and elevated standards worldwide, not just in traditionally regulated sectors.

EU Hits Back at Big Tech in 2025

European regulators ramped up enforcement in 2025 using landmark digital rules such as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), Digital Services Act (DSA), and AI Act to hold major technology firms accountable. The European Commission opened a formal antitrust probe into Google over the use of online content to train AI and ordered Meta to provide users options on personalized advertising, responding to concerns about data use and competition. The EU also fined Google nearly €3 billion for favoring its own ad services and slapped €120 million on Elon Musk’s social platform X for transparency failures under the DSA. Earlier in the year, Apple and Meta faced penalties for violating DMA rules. These measures reflect the EU’s strategy to enforce fairness, transparency, and competitive balance in digital markets as tech giants navigate evolving compliance landscapes.

Key takeaway: Regulators are moving beyond guidance and into sustained enforcement, making compliance with digital market rules essential for tech companies operating in Europe.

✅ Best Practice Spotlight

Compliance Best Practices to Reduce Regulatory Risk

  1. Build a cross-functional compliance team that includes legal, cybersecurity, and product representatives to track evolving digital rules.

  2. Maintain ongoing regulatory monitoring to rapidly adapt to new guidance, fines, or investigations.

  3. Document risk assessments and decision rationale to support audit trails and regulatory responses.

  4. Test systems for privacy and fairness before AI or data-driven features go live to reduce exposure to enforcement actions.

  5. Use clear communication and documentation to demonstrate proactive compliance engagement with regulators.

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  • Integration with other governance tools (GRC, cybersecurity, audit).

🌟 Leader Spotlight

U.S. Steel Pays for Pollution Compliance Failures

United States Steel Corporation agreed to pay a $135,000 civil penalty and implement corrective actions following repeated oil discharges into the Monongahela River from its Irvin Works facility. The settlement with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection resolves violations of the state’s Clean Streams Law after citizens reported visible oil sheens extending miles downstream. In addition to the fine, U.S. Steel must conduct facility-wide investigations into contamination sources, install real-time monitoring systems, and submit regular compliance progress reports. The consent order includes daily inspection requirements and stipulated penalties for future non-compliance. This case highlights how state regulators enforce environmental laws and require both financial penalties and operational improvements for meaningful compliance outcomes.

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