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Compared to the US tech sector, the European one is a completely different beast. For me it seems more like a slow moving, risk-averse and regulated behemoth, w

Compared to the US tech sector, the European one is a completely different beast. For me it seems more like a slow moving, risk-averse and regulated behemoth, while the US tech industry likes to present itself as agile, risk-seeking and (kind-of) unregulated. All major companies from the US already gained a huge competitive advantage by being first-movers and the resulting network effects, which are hard to overcome. The incentive for an average European citizen to switch from something like Google to Qwant is basically zero. I understand the reasons for the EU to force taxes and regulations on tech giants, but this alone will not help the EU to invent itself anew. We're stuck behind and will be for a long time. You cannot change the culture through taxes.

ocdtrekkie 7y ago
I don't think regulating antitrust and competition properly is going to suddenly inspire European-based tech companies, I think much like trying to move manufacturing out of Asia, there's a lot of reasons people found tech companies in the US, a lot of momentum to overcome. But lack of competition even among US companies causes a lot of problems and harm for EU consumers, so I understand why this would still be a very big issue for them to ensure big tech is broken up... even if it just leads to new US-based competitors.
craigsmansion 7y ago
There's "tech" meaning mostly "data-mining/advertising" and "tech" as short for "technology". As long as the EU remains strong in actual technology, the EU doesn't need to reinvent itself on the spot. As far as being "stuck behind for a long time" is concerned, if it remains behind in corporate surveillance and privacy trampling, that's alright by me.
PeterStuer 7y ago
Uncomfortable thruths: US tech rules because risk capital is extremely cheap due to the petrodollar backed up by the planet's largest military force.
- kazen44 7y ago
  this is very true. Also, the US has a corporate structure which is brutal in terms of competition. (and it has a less equal society as a result).
IfOnlyYouKnew 7y ago
I don't know why the European tech sector lags the US's. I've heard the larger domestic market, runaway network effects in Silicon Valley, and it's status at a favorite country to emigrate to as explanations. But, having founded two (small) software companies in Europe, I can assure you I have not once felt any significant impact of regulation. Stuff like GDPR is a nuance at best, employment, tax, data protection, and obviously anti-trust law all have exemptions for smaller companies, etc. If you start a gas fracking business or want to clone people you'll run into trouble rather quickly. But putting X people in a room and building software requires negligible amounts of paperwork.
lacker 7y ago
Compared to the US tech sector, the European one is a completely different beast. To me it feels more like Europe doesn't have its own tech sector. The US and China both have many large tech companies with a market cap of $10B+. Whereas Europe has... Spotify and that's it? There are still a lot of tech workers employed in Europe by the American companies, though.
deleted 7y ago
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ocdtrekkie 7y ago

I don't think regulating antitrust and competition properly is going to suddenly inspire European-based tech companies, I think much like trying to move manufacturing out of Asia, there's a lot of reasons people found tech companies in the US, a lot of momentum to overcome. But lack of competition even among US companies causes a lot of problems and harm for EU consumers, so I understand why this would still be a very big issue for them to ensure big tech is broken up... even if it just leads to new US-based competitors.

craigsmansion 7y ago

There's "tech" meaning mostly "data-mining/advertising" and "tech" as short for "technology". As long as the EU remains strong in actual technology, the EU doesn't need to reinvent itself on the spot. As far as being "stuck behind for a long time" is concerned, if it remains behind in corporate surveillance and privacy trampling, that's alright by me.

PeterStuer 7y ago

Uncomfortable thruths: US tech rules because risk capital is extremely cheap due to the petrodollar backed up by the planet's largest military force.

kazen44 7y ago
this is very true. Also, the US has a corporate structure which is brutal in terms of competition. (and it has a less equal society as a result).

IfOnlyYouKnew 7y ago

I don't know why the European tech sector lags the US's. I've heard the larger domestic market, runaway network effects in Silicon Valley, and it's status at a favorite country to emigrate to as explanations. But, having founded two (small) software companies in Europe, I can assure you I have not once felt any significant impact of regulation. Stuff like GDPR is a nuance at best, employment, tax, data protection, and obviously anti-trust law all have exemptions for smaller companies, etc. If you start a gas fracking business or want to clone people you'll run into trouble rather quickly. But putting X people in a room and building software requires negligible amounts of paperwork.

lacker 7y ago

Compared to the US tech sector, the European one is a completely different beast. To me it feels more like Europe doesn't have its own tech sector. The US and China both have many large tech companies with a market cap of $10B+. Whereas Europe has... Spotify and that's it? There are still a lot of tech workers employed in Europe by the American companies, though.

deleted 7y ago

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