Margrethe Vestager Fought Big Tech and Won. Her Next Target is AI

Machines Like Us

Margrethe Vestager has spent the past decade standing up to Silicon Valley. As the EU’s Competition Commissioner, she’s waged landmark legal battles against tech giants like Meta, Microsoft and Amazon. Her two latest wins will cost Apple and Google billions of dollars.

With her decade-long tenure as one of the world’s most powerful anti-trust watchdogs coming to an end, Vestager has turned her attention to AI. She spearheaded the EU’s AI Act, which will be the first and, so far, most ambitious piece of AI legislation in the world.

But the clock is ticking – both on her term and on the global race to govern AI, which Vestager says we have “very little time” to get right.

Mentioned:

The EU Artificial Intelligence Act

“Dutch scandal serves as a warning for Europe over risks of using algorithms,” by Melissa Heikkilä

“Belgian man dies by suicide following exchanges with chatbot” by Lauren Walker

The Digital Services Act

The Digital Markets Act

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

“The future of European competitiveness” by Mario Draghi

“Governing AI for Humanity: Final Report” by the United Nations Secretary-General’s High-level Advisory Body

The Artificial Intelligence and Data Act (AIDA)

Further Reading:

“Apple, Google must pay billions in back taxes and fines, E.U. court rules” by Ellen Francis and Cat Zakrzewski

“OpenAI Lobbied the E.U. to Water Down AI Regulation” by Billy Perrigo

“The total eclipse of Margrethe Vestager” by Samuel Stolton

“Digital Empires: The Global Battle to Regulate Technology” by Anu Bradford

“The Brussels Effect: How the European Union Rules the World” by Anu Bradford