This points to a structural shift in the global balance of power between tech companies and governments. For two decades, these companies enjoyed a de facto strategic immunity, as governments regulated around them, not through them. The five major tech companies — Alphabet (Google), Meta, Apple, Amazon, and Microsoft — now find themselves facing a stronger, more coordinated, and harsher wave of regulation than ever before. While the company is the direct target, the deeper implications extend far beyond it. The 120 million euro fine imposed by the European Union on the social media platform 'X' represents more than just the first enforcement action under the Digital Services Act.
