Donald Trump has been officially sworn in as the 47th president of the United States. While we’ve previously experienced a Trump presidency starting in 2016, this term is likely to differ significantly, especially regarding tech regulation.
The leaders of major tech companies have seemingly learned how to navigate their relationship with Trump, following a period of tech backlash that sparked criticism from multiple fronts. The executives, who maintained a cautious distance during Trump’s initial term, are now eager to gain Trump’s favor, whether through visits to Mar-a-Lago, participating in the inauguration, modifying their corporate policies, or sending notifications to millions of users thanking Trump for his anticipated role in restoring their popular social media app.
There are compelling reasons for CEOs to align closely with Trump. The upcoming four years could see the president’s decisions affecting their companies and employees in numerous areas. Our focus will include:
- How Trump manages tariffs against countries like China, where tech firms such as Apple manufacture many of their products.
- Whether Trump leverages the US surveillance state (along with companies’ data collection practices) to fulfill promises of mass deportations.
- The trajectory of global efforts to combat climate change, expected to receive less support from the US.
- Environmental regulation within the US.
- Export controls on AI chips.
- Ongoing and potential new antitrust cases involving many of the largest tech companies.
- The potential elimination of incentives for purchasing electric vehicles.
- The Federal Communications Commission’s role in revoking spectrum licenses over speech that Trump disapproves of.
- The future of tech’s liability shield Section 230.
- Immigration policy, including H-1B visas for skilled tech professionals.
- How Trump protects US tech firms from EU’s DSA and DMA regulations.
- And the conclusion of the TikTok ban saga in the US.
Trump has announced his intention to spend his first afternoon back in the Oval Office signing “dozens of executive orders.” These orders are anticipated to address border policy, environmental issues, trade, and potentially delay the TikTok ban. If this term resembles his first, many of these actions will likely face legal challenges—and the outcomes will reveal the extent of checks on Trump’s power this time around.
