Ireland's EU Commissioner Michael McGrath will meet senior US tech executives, including Open AI chief executive Sam Altman, as well representatives of Apple, Google, Meta, Netflix and YouTube during a visit to California this week.
The visit will have a particular focus on online safety for children and comes in the wake of a recent judgement in a Los Angeles court which found Meta (Facebook/Instagram) and Google (YouTube) liable for causing mental harm to a teenager through the addictive design of their platforms.
Regulating US social media platforms has been a source of friction between the Trump administration and the European Union.
Since 2023, the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (DPF) has governed the free flow of data from Europe to the United States, an arrangement which underpins more than $1 trillion in trade and investment annually, according to a European Commission statement.
Mr McGrath, European Commissioner for Democracy, Justice, the Rule of Law and Consumer Protection, will meet venture capitalists and tech innovators "to exchange views on the EU's recent initiatives to ensure a stable, predictable and investment-friendly environment across the EU Single Market," according to the statement.
The commissioner is expected to promote the recently proposed EU Inc initiative which aims to cut fragmentation and make it easier for firms to grow in Europe - while also attracting investment from partners like the US and encouraging companies that previously left Europe to return.
During meetings with Meta, Google, Apple and YouTube, discussions "will focus on practical steps to ensure platforms are open and competitive, while delivering real protections for users - particularly children.
"This includes how services are designed, how content is recommended, and how risks to young people are identified and addressed."
The commission will soon bring forward a Digital Fairness Act aiming to protect consumers when using and purchasing products online.
Mr McGrath will meet gaming companies such as Roblox and Electronic Arts to discuss "the need to ensure strong, consistent protections for younger users across all digital services," according to the commission.
The commissioner will also meet Open AI and Anthropic executives "to discuss how to support innovation while managing risks and maintaining public trust".
The meetings come amid ongoing distrust between the White House and the commission on regulating US tech firms, with President Donald Trump having threatened tariffs on EU firms for allegedly discriminating against the sector under the guise of regulating on child safety and democracy concerns.
Mr McGrath will also meet senior figures from US regulatory and online safety agencies.
