Germany’s Economy Minister Robert Habeck has criticized tech billionaire Elon Musk and called for Europe to break free from its reliance on Silicon Valley platforms.
Speaking at a televised Q&A ahead of Sunday’s national election, Habeck warned that U.S. tech giants pose a threat to democracy and urged the EU to develop its own digital infrastructure.
“The most powerful man in the world — the U.S. president [Donald Trump] — and the richest man in the world, Elon Musk, have teamed up to eliminate boundaries on power. That cannot be in our interest,” Habeck said, accusing Musk of promoting a selective version of “free speech” while keeping his business practices and algorithms secret.
He argued that U.S. tech corporations must be regulated but expressed doubt over Europe’s current ability to do so effectively. “Why don’t we have a German or European communication platform of our own?” Habeck asked, stressing that Europe must reclaim leadership in the digital space, not just in social media but across key technology sectors.
Habeck warned that Europe has a limited window—just two years—to act before falling further behind in technological sovereignty.
