Technology & Power — Publications

Fighting for Democracy Amid the AI Race: Designing Tech Industrial Policy to Promote Democratic Economic Governance

Open Markets' Europe director, Max von Thun, and industrial policy program manager, AudreyStienon, discuss in Competition Policy International's TechREG Chronicle how AI policy narratives framed around the goal of "winning" a global race threaten to undermine the democratic values that this technology is supposed to help defend. Instead, von Thun and Stienon present a vision for an industrial strategy for AI centered on democratic governance as a means of protecting the public interest.

European Civil Society Organisations Condemn Clearance of Google’s Acquisition of Wiz

The Open Markets Institute, Balanced Economy Project, Rebalance Now, and SOMO released condemned the European Commission’s decision to allow Google to acquire cloud security firm, Wiz, against expert recommendations for a deeper assessment of the deal.

The Corner Newsletter: OpenAI’s RAMpage (February 10th, 2026)

In this issue, we explore the legal and economic impact of OpenAI’s deals to lock up supply of memory chips.

Report - Taming the Hyperscalers

The Open Markets Institute published a blueprint for Europe’s transition towards an open, competitive, and sovereign cloud market, co-authored by Europe director Max von Thun and EU tech policy fellow George Colville.

Open Markets Institute Applauds EU Move to Stop Meta from Gatekeeping AI on WhatsApp

The European Commission announced a preliminary finding that Meta may have abused its dominant position by excluding third-party AI assistants from WhatsApp. The Commission intends to impose interim measures to prevent serious and irreparable damage to competition. Such measures could include Meta being forced to open WhatsApp to third-party AI assistants. Max von Thun, Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships at the Open Markets Institute, released a following statement.

European Commission’s Preliminary Finding Against TikTok Is a Landmark Moment for Platform Accountability

The Open Markets Institute released a statement led by Max von Thun, Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnership a preliminary finding that TikTok’s platform design contributes to addictive use and may violate the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) requiring TikTok to fundamentally change to its business model, including disabling addictive features such as “infinite scroll”.

Open Markets Urges European Commission to Investigate Google’s Wiz Acquisition on Cloud Monopoly Concerns

Open Markets Institute, alongside partner organisations Article 19, the Balanced Economy Project and SOMO, made a detailed submission to the European Commission urging officials to open an in-depth investigation into Google’s proposed acquisition of the cloud security firm Wiz.

Barry Lynn Condemns Travel Bans on European Citizens

Barry Lynn condemns travel bans on five European citizens on the theory that their efforts to regulate the behavior of dominant online communications platforms amounted to censorship of American citizens.

European Commission to Investigate Cloud Computing Services

Open Markets welcomes the European Commission’s three market investigations on cloud computing services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Statements, Press ReleasesOMI EuropeNovember 18, 20252025, november 2025, Max von Thun, Technology & Power, Europe, Secondary Feature

Open Markets Condemns Google's Paltry AdTech Remedies in the EU Case

In a statement from Max von Thun, Open Markets condemns Google’s insufficient remedies, proposed in the EU, regarding its conflicts of interests in the adtech stack.

The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI

The Open Markets Institute and ARTICLE 19 hosted on October 15th & 16th a convening of high-level leading thinkers, lawmakers, technologists, and advocates who discussed the direct and growing threats to our democracies and basic liberties posed by today’s dominant online communications platforms, the rise of AI, and interference by foreign states.

New Policy Brief Warns: U.S. “Free Speech” Attacks Threaten Europe’s Sovereignty and Democracy

CJL director Dr. Courtney Radsch and Europe director Max von Thun author a brief arguing that dominant U.S. platforms such as Google, Meta and X wield unprecedented power to manipulate political discourse, censor individuals and organizations, and shape the flow of information across Europe, the United States and beyond. At the same time, and in coordination with these corporations, the current U.S. administration has launched an “unprecedented assault” on Europe’s right to regulate these corporations in the public interest.

How Big Tech’s AI Dreams are Driving Your Electricity Bills Through the Roof

EU tech policy fellow George Colville argues that the AI industry's growing energy demands are unfairly driving up electricity prices for ordinary Americans, with tech giants leveraging their power to shift the cost burden onto taxpayers and households instead of bearing it themselves.

The European Commission Cracks Down on Google - Our Statement

Open Markets Europe Director Max von Thun released a statement in response to the European Commission’s decision to fine Google €3 billion for abusing its dominance in the adtech market and ordering the internet giant to end its illegal conduct.

European Merger Guidelines: Open Markets Institute Europe Urges Stronger Rules to Rein in Corporate Power

Open Markets Institute Europe submitted more than 20 pages of recommendations to the European Commission as part of its consultation on updating the EU’s Horizontal and Non-Horizontal Merger Guidelines for the first time in nearly two decades.

Open Markets Institute Urges Congress to Stop Defending Big Tech’s Monopoly Power and Recognize the Value of Europe’s Digital Regulations

The Open Markets Institute submitted a letter to the House Judiciary Committee calling on Congress to reject Big Tech’s fear-mongering campaign against European digital regulation and instead recognize how Europe’s approach strengthens free speech, competition, and democracy.

Open Markets Joins Call for EU to Stand Firm Against U.S. Interference in Digital Rulemaking

Open Markets Institute joined over 50 civil society groups in urging the European Commission to stand firm against U.S. interference in the EU’s digital rulemaking.

Open Markets Institute Welcomes Landmark UK Parliament Report on Social Media

Max von Thun applauds a new report on tech algorithms and misinformation from the UK Parliament’s Science, Innovation and Technology Committee.

Europe vs. the Tech Plutocrats An Existential Battle for Democracy and Sovereignty

Director of Europe & Transatlantic partnerships Max von Thun published an essay in Musk, Power, and the EU: Can EU Law Tackle the Challenges of Unchecked Plutocracy?,warningthat Europe’s reliance on U.S. tech giants like Elon Musk’s companies threatens its sovereignty and democracy, and calls for bold, unified EU action to reclaim control and enforce democratic digital governance.

Articles, BooksOMI EuropeMay 29, 2025Max von Thun, 2025, May 2025, Big Tech, Europe, Technology & Power, Primary Feature

WEBINAR: Engineering the Cloud Commons: Tackling Monopoly Control of Critical Digital Infrastructure

Our webinar was hosted on May 15th, focusing on concentrated corporate control over cloud infrastructure threatens competition, innovation, and national security—and what bold steps are needed to build a more open, resilient digital future.

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