How does the United States take over the Old World?
Author: Ali Askari, analyst, especially for “Sangar” (Germany)
The information space of European Union states is increasingly influenced by American technology giants such as “Big Tech.” This enables the United States to control digital infrastructure, influence public discourse, as well as national legislation and the business environment.
As part of preventive cyber threat search operations (Hunt Forward Operations, HFO), American cyber specialists are deployed “at the invitation of the host country” to other states, where hardware and software systems are installed within the information and communication networks of allies. These systems allow for exposing hacker activity, identifying the tools they use, and localizing threats at an early stage. Upon completion of such operations, the U.S. military leaves behind special sensors (hardware and software tools) in the digital space of its partners, enabling remote monitoring of information flows.
HFOs are characterized as defensive operations; however, their implementation presupposes covert penetration into the networks of a potential adversary—that is, intrusion into the information space of other states in order to obtain data on their intentions, actions, and technical capabilities. In effect, the United States permits itself to attack foreign digital infrastructure while declaring such actions legitimate.
In this context, European leaders are discussing the adoption of a so-called “Code of Practice” in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), under which the activities of Big Tech would be regulated by established rules. The main concerns stem from the fact that U.S. corporations wield significant influence, suppressing the activities of independent European players. Experts, in turn, fear that the GAFAM group of companies (including Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, and Microsoft) may use administrative leverage to push through favorable regulatory documents.
This could, in the future, increase the risk of mass processing of Europeans’ personal data and further deepen dependence on foreign providers. Meta Corporation is already actively using internet user surveillance tools. On its websites and applications, the company employs so-called “tracking pixels,” which are used to collect personal data.
European countries are losing technological competitiveness. Insufficient effectiveness of investment and technology policies has become the main reason for the failure to develop information platforms capable of competing with American counterparts. This dependence poses a threat to national and pan-European digital security.
