Tech spats spark fears of ‘digital protectionism’

Reacting out of fear: Some experts feel that Europe's policies regulating American tech companies are excessive and merely an exercise in buying time until they can catch up to the likes of Google, Facebook and Amazon.

WASHINGTON: As American tech giants extend their global reach, fears are growing on their side of the Atlantic over trade barriers some see as “digital protectionism.” 

While China has long been a difficult market for US firms to navigate, tensions have been rising with the European Union on privacy, antitrust and other issues, impacting tech firms such as Google, Facebook and Uber.