Extract
[...] 1.1 The abuse of dominant position by Big Techs The GAFA have been accused by the European Union of violating European competition rules and were fined more than $30 billion. Recently, it was Apple that was fined by the European Commission with a fine of 1.8 billion euros, due to abuse of dominant position in the market for the distribution of online music applications (La Finance pour tous, 2024). This is one of the largest fines imposed by the European Commission for non-compliance with European competition rules, behind the following (Les Echos, November 10, 2021)5) : - the record amount of ?13 billion in unpaid taxes by Apple to Ireland in August 2016 - a fine of ?4.3 billion in 2018 for Google, due to an abuse of dominant position with its smartphone operating system, Android; - the fine of ?2.42 billion in 2017 for Google due to its dominant position in online search to favor its price comparison service Google Shopping; - a fine of ?1.5 billion for Google due to anticompetitive practices of its advertising regulatory AdSense. [...]
[...] Finally, the ethical challenges must also be taken into account in this global governance of digital technologies. References COFACE (2024), "The War of Electronics: The Future of Sino-American Rivalries", November 19, 2024. Les Echos (November 10, 2021), "The 5 biggest fines imposed by the EU on Gafam". Les Echos (February 14, 2025), "Gafa Tax: Trump Threatens France, Bercy Remains Firm"." Les Echos (February 22, 2025), "Trump Goes on Crusade Against Europe to Benefit American Internet Giants"." Sesa System Digital, "What is Industry Zucman, G. [...]
[...] In addition, an agreement had been reached in 2021 within the OECD framework for better taxation, at the global level, of the digital activities of large multinational companies. However, cThis global tax on GAFA does not make unanimity within the States (notably from the United States, Brazil, Colombia and India) and seems today threatened by the threats of reprisals and economic sanctions from the Trump administration against the States that apply it. However, in response to the introduction of this GAFA tax by the States, the Trump administration wants to sanction these countries by imposing customs duties and other retaliatory measures (The Echoes, February 22, 2025)10). [...]
[...] Digital technologies are thus spreading to all companies, benefiting from the latest innovations in information technologies, mobile communications, and robotics. This Fourth Industrial Revolution is thus based on a whole series of technologies (Sesa Systems Digital1) : the Internet of Things (IoT2), digital twinsTwin models), 3D printers, cyber-physical systems cyber security, the cloud computing, collaborative robots (Cobot) and augmented reality. This results in companies saving time and increasing efficiency and product quality in their production process. In addition, this fourth RI is marked by the development of Artificial Intelligence technologies and Big Data (i.e. [...]
[...] On the other hand, major economic powers such as the United States, China, and the European Union are in full technological competition, which gives rise to geopolitical tensions, as well as at the commercial level. In this context, the question of governance and the architecture of this digital technology globalization is raised, so that States can exercise a sovereign right of control and oversight over the development of these technologies. In the first part, we analyze the weaknesses and threats posed by the current digital globalization. Then, in the second part, we focus on the pillars of this global governance of digital technologies. 1. [...]
