Google’s president of global affairs and chief legal officer, Kent Walker, has warned that Europe risks undermining its competitiveness drive by restricting access to foreign technology.
He called it a “competitive paradox” as the EU tries to spur growth while “restricting the use of the technologies it needs to get there”.
Walker said: “Google delivers a lot of value to Europe. Erecting walls that make it harder to use some of the best technology in the world, especially as it’s advancing so quickly, would actually be counter-productive.”
His comments landed as EU leaders gathered in Belgium for a summit on boosting competitiveness in a more volatile global economy.
Europe’s push for digital sovereignty has picked up momentum in recent months, driven by fears that US President Donald Trump’s foreign policy could trigger a tech decoupling.
French AI start-up Mistral said its revenues have increased 20-fold in the past year, as European businesses look for alternatives to US tech.
Brussels is expected to present a “tech sovereignty package” in the spring, aimed at expanding sovereign cloud options and tightening Europe’s grip on software.
Walker pushed for “open digital sovereignty,” which he said would allow the bloc to control key technologies while still using the world’s best.
US firms could partner with European companies “that allow local control, local storage of information, local ability to make sure that we are complying with European requirements.”
Under Trump, Brussels and Washington have been grinding against each other over digital regulation and Europe’s efforts to restrict social media for children.
France, president Emmanuel Macron said this week that further EU-US clashes over tech regulation were likely later this year.
Trump’s Greenland threats have revived talk in Europe about targeting Silicon Valley with retaliatory measures, given the EU’s sizeable services deficit with the US.
Google’s president of global affairs and chief legal officer, Kent Walker, said, “We’re a multinational company. As with any business, we value certainty and predictability and alignment. If we have 190 countries with 190 different rules, it’s very difficult to build software.”
Walker refused to bite on retaliation, saying Google is focused on delivering services and is “deeply committed” to Europe.
He argued that “regulatory friction” risks holding back innovation and denying users and businesses access to “the best digital tools”.
Unlike the Fruity Cargo Cult Apple, Google is not asking Brussels to bin its digital rule book, but it is pleading for a “pragmatic, forward-looking approach,” especially on AI.
“The AI transition is the most competitive technology transition we’ve ever seen. The market is moving faster than the rules right now,” he said.
