Pressure from the Trump administration and major U.S. technology firms is already changing the shape of Europe’s planned digital rulebook, leaving several flagship laws stalled or at risk of being diluted.
The European Commission looks likely to end the year with little to show on its top tech-policy files. The EU AI Act, the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act face delays and potential rollbacks. Drafts that had seemed set for adoption are being reworked, and some proposals may be shelved altogether.
A series of amendments under discussion could strip much of the substance from the EU AI Act. The Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act are also under renewed scrutiny. The Digital Networks Act and the EU Space Act have run into legal challenges before they are adopted, raising questions about how much will survive the current review cycle.
Since the tariff agreement between the United States and Europe was signed last August, pressure from big tech, backed by the Trump administration, has mounted in Brussels and in national capitals. That push aims to soften restrictions across multiple files and to extend negotiation timelines.
The EU AI Act entered into force in August 2024. Full implementation is due in August 2027, with a key intermediate milestone in 2026. The Financial Times reports the first look at possible amendments could arrive toward the end of 2026 as part of a broader Digital Omnibus package intended to simplify guidance.
At a daily press briefing on November 7, Thomas Regnier, the spokesman for the European Commission for Digital Sovereignty, acknowledged growing worries. “A lot is happening in the field of artificial intelligence. Standards are lagging. There are concerns from industry and member states," he said. “In this context, we have a ‘digital omnibus’ coming, and that would be the appropriate framework to address some of these concerns. But no decision has been made yet.”
One of the most consequential options being floated would push back enforcement of penalties under the law by one year—from August 2026 to August 2027—ostensibly to "grant sufficient time for providers and users of AI systems to comply."
The Digital Networks Act, once expected before the year closed, has also been delayed. Officials say the file will not return to formal debate until late January 2026, assuming negotiators can bridge wide gaps between member states. Disputes center on two items in particular: plans to phase out copper networks and proposals to beef up BEREC, the European telecoms regulator.
On the copper question, Germany objected to a proposed 2030 cut-off, calling that timetable too aggressive. On BEREC, many national regulators said market differences justify a lighter touch. Officials in several countries privately worry they would lose influence at home if powers shift to a stronger EU-level body. The single telecom market project appears to be losing momentum. The net-neutrality revision has vanished from the current working version of the Digital Networks Act, and attempts to rebalance market conditions between telecom operators and big tech remain vague.
The United States has formally objected to the EU Space Act, arguing the draft would constrain U.S. companies and clash with the spirit of the tariff framework. In a 13-page response to the public consultation launched in July, the U.S. State Department listed provisions it says must be revised. “The current draft of the EU Space Act contradicts the spirit of the agreement,” the State Department wrote, calling on Europe to "allow for smoother cooperation with the U.S. government and industry rather than introduce additional barriers to cooperation."
Brussels officials have continued to press American platforms to meet their obligations under the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act, sending compliance letters and opening enforcement files. A flood of legal challenges and formal appeals by industry players has slowed the process, stretching out expected timelines.
Apple and Google have publicly criticized the DMA in recent days, underscoring the strain in transatlantic talks. Last August the Federal Trade Commission warned that some DSA provisions could run afoul of U.S. law, citing potential conflicts over freedom of expression and the protection of U.S. citizens.
Spectrum policy has become another flashpoint. The U.S. State Department has lobbied on behalf of the Wi‑Fi sector, which includes Apple, Broadcom, Cisco and Qualcomm, to safeguard a slice of mobile spectrum. MLex reports the Radio Spectrum Policy Group (RSPG), which advises the Commission on spectrum matters, proposed a compromise on the upper 6 GHz band that would favor mobile operators.
Washington urged member states to set aside almost half of the band for Wi‑Fi services aimed at high‑speed, low‑latency uses such as virtual reality and cloud gaming. MLex said 13 out of 27 countries, among them Italy, sided with mobile carriers, while several others abstained. The RSPG issues recommendations rather than binding rules, so individual countries retain discretion.
Final authority for any EU-level decision rests with the European Commission. The policy process now underway could reshape the timing and reach of Europe’s most ambitious tech rules, with shifts in deadlines, enforcement and regulatory powers still on the table.