[Skybird]

For the US, the IT industry, namely he big name slike Microsoft, Facebook, Google, Apple, are of utmost importance for their economy, first for generating economic profits, and second to maintain technological leadership that Europe has given up on already, and to maintain dependence of Europe from these branches. That the internet traffic infrastructure practically gets controlled by the US, does not help to make it any easier for the EU.

Any attempt by the EU to rigorously regulate or boycott or punish these actors, will be met with severe diplomatic pressure, lobbying and blackmailing by Washington. With Trump, even a trade war over these things is possible, too. Europe lacks an equal tool mof counter-pressuring the Americans, for the EU without the German industry must and will falter, and the German economy is hopelessly export-dependent, with the US being an important market, last but not least for cars.

Germany has surrounded itself with its many dependencies and vulnerabilities. Idiots.