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The UK will surrender its right to set its own tech laws. Will the EU follow?

The United Kingdom is rolling out the red carpet for US President Donald Trump today, making good on Keir Starmer’s invitation during his grovelling White House visit in February. A second state visit is an honour never extended to any US president before. Trump will be escorted in a royal carriage heralded by three separate military bands and escorted by riders on horseback to Windsor Castle to meet King Charles III, after having already met Charles’ mother during his first term. Last month Trump claimed that European leaders jokingly told him he’s now the “President of Europe.” It’s unclear if Starmer was one of those leaders, but Trump sure does seem to be cosplaying as the King of England at the moment. And with the way UK and EU leaders have been prostrating themselves before him, his characterisation may not be far from the truth.

On the sidelines of this visit, Starmer and Trump will sign a “technology pact” which says that the American big tech companies will make significant investments in rolling out their technologies across Britain. It is only a few pages long, but its implications could be profound. Because in exchange for the investment, it is implicit that the UK will roll back the UK technology regulations (laws meant to protect citizens) that the American big tech companies and the US government have been railing against for the past months.