Barcelona: The U.S. communications chair said on Monday that the EU tech rules are "excessive" and "incompatible" with American values, vowing to defend the interests of American tech companies. Speaking at the annual Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Brendan Carr, the new chair of the U.S. Federal Communications Commission, expressed concern with the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA).

According to Namibia Press Agency, Carr stated that for U.S. tech companies in Europe, the DSA was "something that is incompatible with both our free speech tradition in America and the commitments that these technology companies have made to a diversity of opinions." He emphasized that if Europe engages in protectionist regulation to treat U.S. technology companies unfairly, the Trump administration intends to defend U.S. business interests.

The DSA, which became effective a year ago, regulates online intermediaries and platforms to prevent illegal and harmful activities online and the spread of disinformation. Companies violating the DSA can face fines of up to 6 percent of their annual global turnover. Thomas Regnier, a European Commission spokesperson, rebutted Carr's comments, saying the censorship allegations against the DSA are unfounded.

Tensions between the EU and the United States have soared since President Donald Trump's return, with his administration slamming EU tech laws as "overseas extortion." Last month, Trump said he would impose retaliatory tariffs on countries that levy digital service taxes on U.S. tech companies.