EU’s antitrust cop lays groundwork for more tech scrutiny

The European Union’s competition commissioner, Margrethe Vestager, poses during an interview Monday Jan. 14, 2019, in Copenhagen, Denmark. AP

COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Silicon Valley’s notorious nemesis, Margrethe Vestager, plans to end her term as the European Union’s antitrust enforcer this year with a bang, laying out a long-term plan to intensify scrutiny of the world’s big tech companies.

As the EU’s competition commissioner, Vestager is arguably the world’s most important tech regulator. The 50-year-old Dane is now laying the groundwork for a new phase of regulation beyond the end of her term in October.

She’s planning a report meant to guide EU competition policies in the era of digitization. Feedback from companies, business groups and experts shows many see the need for more regulation and when it’s published in March, the report will reflect the need for new or tougher rules, she told The Associated Press in an interview. /ee