Trump and tech: More of the same, but with a twist

Trump and tech: More of the same, but with a twist

As President Trump prepares to take office on Sunday, 20 January, the tech world is bracing for impact. The United States, as the birthplace of the internet, AI, and many of the world’s leading tech companies, plays an outsized role in shaping the global digital landscape. Yet, despite the anticipation of sweeping changes, Trump’s presidency is likely to reflect more continuity than disruption in tech policy. This prediction is rooted in both historical continuity and practical realities.

Historical continuity: a private sector-driven legacy

The United States has long championed a private sector-led approach to technological innovation, a tradition that dates back to the 19th century, when—for example, in 1875 at the ITU St. Petersburg conference—the USA opposed a provision on the government’s control of content carried by telegraph companies. 

Over the past century and a half, this core policy has remained remarkably consistent, with the ‘Titanic moment’ as the main exception when the USA pushed for adopting the strict international radio regulations in force today. These regulations responded to public outcry after the Titanic catastrophe, not marking the overall US approach to international tech governance.

Trump, a pro-business leader, is unlikely to break from this tradition. His administration will resist international regulatory efforts that could constrain US tech companies.

Practical realities: why fix what isn’t broken?

The current international tech landscape largely benefits US interests. Silicon Valley’s growing influence on Trump further reinforces the likelihood that his administration will preserve the status quo. Why disrupt a system that has propelled American tech giants to global dominance?

However, maintaining this dominance won’t be without challenges. Other global actors, including partners such as the European Union, are increasingly asserting their interests in digital governance. These divergent priorities could create friction, especially around content regulation, taxation, and data sovereignty.

Content regulation: Challenge from abroad

One area where Trump’s presidency may bring notable shifts is content policy. The administration is expected to de-emphasise efforts to combat misinformation and disinformation, a stance influenced by Trump’s personal experiences with corporate content moderation. Elon Musk’s pushback against content restrictions at Twitter (nowadays X) was followed at the beginning of 2025 by Meta Platforms, host of Facebook and Instagram.

Two key questions will dominate the content policy debate:

What responsibility should tech platforms bear for the content they host?
The future of Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which protects tech companies from liability for user-generated content, remains uncertain. While there is bipartisan support for reforming Section 230, no concrete changes have been made. Trump could seize this opportunity to hold companies accountable for harmful content, potentially reshaping the online information ecosystem.

How will the US navigate international tensions over content regulation?
The EU’s Digital Services Act and Australia’s law banning mirrors from accessing social media are examples of a growing global push for content regulation and stricter oversight of tech platforms. Trump’s content policy will collide with this trend and create new tech tensions with many countries, including the US partners.

How will Trump deal with the future of TikTok?

After a strong push against TikTok during his first presidency, Trump has been sending mixed signals about the future of this video platform in the United States. The timing of the TikTok case is interesting as, according to US legislation, ByteDance should sell TikTok to US owners by 19 January, the day before Trump’s inauguration, or face banning. Apart from this complexity, the “domestication” of TikTok could set a precedent for similar actions against US companies operating in other jurisdictions and further complicating international tech relations.

AI: aligning with global trends

Trump’s expected scrapping of Biden’s Executive Order on AI aligns with a broader shift from the ‘extinction risk’ narrative of 2023 towards a focus on more immediate AI risks and overall opportunities. This global AI shift can be seen in the forthcoming Paris AI summit programme, where issues of AI as commons and AI governance are more prominent than AI safety, which dominated the previous two summits in the UK and South Korea.

Trump’s executive order on AI, which can be expected on 20 January, will mirror one from 2019 aimed at solidifying the US position as the global AI leader through three priority areas: innovation (through research, infrastructure, and public-private partnerships), skilling (to prepare the workforce for an AI-driven economy), and global competitiveness (by promoting US AI exports and countering China’s influence).

Geostrategy and cybersecurity: A focus on China

‘Continuity’ can describe Trump’s cybersecurity policy, particularly in US-China relations. Biden administration developed various export restriction policies during Trump’s first presidency. This geostrategic lens will also influence antitrust and competition policies as Trump seeks to ensure that American tech giants remain globally competitive.

Digital taxes: Unfinished business

The taxation of tech companies, a contentious issue during Trump’s first term, has not been resolved by Biden. The OECD failed to agree on a global framework for taxation of tech companies. Many countries, including Germany, France, the UK, and Canada, that paused the introduction of the digital tax will have to revisit this policy. This will inevitably lead to tension with Trump’s administration.

Cryptocurrencies: New dawn

The crypto industry, a significant donor to Trump’s campaign, is among the main winners of Trump’s election. On the news of Trump’s victory, bitcoin value surged 33%. Trump, who is also named the first ‘crypto president,’ is expected to set a few critical regulations: the creation of a crypto stockpile as a strategic reserve, ensuring access of the crypto industry to banking services, and development of ‘crypto’ friendly by the newly established crypto council. The first test of how strong Trump’s ‘crypto’ shift will be is the number of executive orders dealing with cryptocurrencies that will be adopted on his first day in office on Sunday, 20 January.

Conclusion: Continuity with changes and challenges

While Trump’s presidency may bring some shifts in tech policy, particularly around content regulation and AI, the overarching theme will be continuity. The US will continue to prioritise private-sector innovation and resist international regulatory efforts. However, maintaining this approach will require navigating growing tensions with global partners and addressing complex domestic challenges. In the end, Trump’s tech presidency will be less about revolution and more about refining a system that has long served.