In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's latest term in office, his administration’s approach to technology policy has demonstrated a notable continuity, maintaining a stable trajectory despite broader political turbulence in areas such as trade and environmental regulations. A detailed analysis by Jovan Kurbalija, featured in a blog post entitled ‘Tech continuity in President Trump’s first 100 days,’ reveals that out of 139 executive orders issued during this period, only nine specifically targeted technology-related issues. These orders predominantly concentrated on digital finance, artificial intelligence (AI) leadership, and cybersecurity, reflecting a longstanding US tradition of business-friendly tech governance.
The Trump administration has reinforced its preference for allowing the technology sector to evolve with minimal heavy-handed regulatory interference. This approach runs somewhat counter to the trajectory seen internationally, particularly with the European Union’s efforts to enforce stronger digital sovereignty and regulatory measures aimed at technology companies. Within the United States, a significant policy shift was observed in content moderation. An executive order was introduced to limit federal involvement in online censorship, aligning with recent deregulatory trends seen among major social media platforms like Meta and X (formerly Twitter).
One of the more high-profile and ongoing narratives during this period has been the protracted saga surrounding TikTok. The administration extended the deadline for ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, to divest its US operations amid rising geopolitical tensions between the US and China. This case underscores the increasingly complex intersection of technology policy and international relations.
In the domain of AI policy, the Trump administration charted a course distinct from the previous Biden administration’s focus on safety and precaution. Instead, the emphasis was placed on enhancing economic competitiveness and reforming educational frameworks to bolster American leadership in artificial intelligence. This stance emerged through public consultations that highlighted a broad spectrum of perspectives from industry stakeholders.
Cybersecurity remained a key area of focus, with policies directed towards strengthening technical infrastructure. However, the approach seemingly deprioritised the issue of misinformation compared to previous administrations.
On matters concerning the digital economy, the administration introduced new tariffs and removed the de minimis import exemption, moves that may contribute to a more fragmented global internet landscape. In an influential development within the cryptocurrency sector, President Trump adopted a pro-crypto stance by establishing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and relaxing certain regulatory constraints. While these initiatives aimed to foster innovation in the digital currency space, they also elicited concerns regarding potential financial market volatility.
Overall, the analysis by Kurbalija, as reported by the Digital Watch Observatory, suggests that despite tactical adjustments, the Trump administration’s overarching technology policy retains a fundamental element of continuity. It remains steadfastly committed to supporting private sector innovation while navigating increasingly strained global digital relationships.
Source: Noah Wire Services