European Union may soon have good news for Google, Meta, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and other tech firms

Google, Meta, Netflix, Microsoft, Amazon and other US technology companies may soon have good news in Europe. According to a report by news agency Reuters, the European Commission is planning to present a new proposal called the Digital Networks Act on January 20. The plan, led by EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen, aims to improve Europe’s competitiveness and increase investment in telecom infrastructure. The report quotes sources familiar with the matter who said that under the draft plan, the tech companies would be covered by a voluntary framework rather than binding rules. Telecom operators, in contrast, will continue to face mandatory obligations. The European Union has introduced several new technology laws in recent years, which have drawn criticism from the United States. US officials have argued that the rules unfairly target American tech companies, a claim the EU has rejected. One source said the companies would be encouraged to cooperate and share best practices through discussions overseen by EU telecom regulators, with no new legal requirements. "They will be asked to cooperate and discuss voluntarily, moderated by EU telecoms regulators' group BEREC. There will be no new obligations. It will be a best practices regime," one of the sources told the publication. The proposal also includes measures to align rules on spectrum licensing across the EU. These would cover licence duration, sale conditions and pricing methods used in spectrum auctions. The plan also sets out guidance on fibre network rollout and allows countries to delay the 2030.