A new report from Germany’s Monopol Commission has raised serious concerns regarding a growing structural dependence on subsea cables, highlighting the disproportionate influence of US tech giants in transatlantic data flows. Commission chair, Tomaso Duso, told the Handelsblatt that these companies are now effectively dominating the infrastructure underpinning critical communication links.
The central issue, according to the report, is the expanding gap in regulatory oversight. Many of these cables are being constructed outside the scope of traditional telecommunications regulations, primarily to serve the internal operational needs of major US corporations. This deliberate circumvention leaves European authorities with a severely limited understanding of ownership and control structures.
Duso emphasized the significant challenge posed by this situation, stating that international cables frequently slip through the regulatory net, leaving national authorities often powerless to intervene. The Monopol Commission itself has struggled to acquire reliable data, illustrating the scale of the problem.
The report’s most pressing concern involves the security policy implications. An alarming 90 percent of transatlantic data traffic now flows through cables financed or operated by US tech corporations. While previously considered a niche area, subsea cables are rapidly emerging as a matter of heightened security relevance.
This concentrated control raises significant questions about data security, potential vulnerabilities to foreign influence and the ability of European nations to maintain digital sovereignty. The lack of transparency and regulatory oversight creates a concerning power imbalance, prompting calls for a renewed focus on establishing robust international frameworks to govern the construction and operation of these vital communication arteries. The Monopol Commission’s findings are expected to fuel a broader debate within the European Union regarding the need for stronger regulations and greater scrutiny of transatlantic technological infrastructure.
