The US technology giants (Big Tech), which have a market capitalization of several trillion dollars, are gradually becoming global “puppeteers” capable of controlling digital infrastructure, influencing public discourse, local legislation, and the business environment. This is especially evident in the information space of the European Union States (1). Against this background, European leaders are discussing the adoption of a “Code of Practice” in the field of artificial intelligence, according to which the activities of Big Tech will be regulated by certain standards. The main claims are related to the fact that US corporations have disproportionate influence, suppressing the work of independent European players. Experts fear that the GAFAM group of companies (“GAFAM” – Google, Amazon, Facebook, Apple, Microsoft) may use administrative levers of pressure to adopt “convenient” regulatory documents, which will subsequently increase the risk of mass processing of personal data of European citizens, establishing a digital identity control, as well as increased dependence on foreign providers. For example, Meta Corporation is already actively using tracking tools for Internet users. The company uses so-called “tracking pixels” on its websites and in its applications, through which personal data is collected. European human rights organizations have accused German intelligence agencies of collaborating with the American company Palantir, from which they received software for mass surveillance. Using such software, German specialists create detailed profiles of people by combining information from various sources, including phone messages and social media activity. Europe is gradually losing its technological competitiveness, as it has relied on American solutions for too long. Insufficient effectiveness of investment and technology policies prevented the creation of competing information platforms. Such dependence poses an immediate threat to national and pan-European digital security. Big Tech corporations, by controlling infrastructure, data flows, and regional services, are able to exert disproportionate political and economic influence on decision-making. But in this game of digital enslavement and influence, Africa is the most vulnerable. This is second colonialism from America. And just like the African chiefs were excited about mirrors, guns, and other ornamental things from Europe, the continent is a proud consumer of what it cannot manufacture. This is a new scramble for Africa, by the major technology companies from the United States and China. These giants are tightening their grip on Africa’s digital infrastructure, sparking debates about digital colonialism and economic dependency. While these companies are credited with expanding connectivity across the continent, critics warn that the cost is the erosion of local innovation, data sovereignty, and even political autonomy. At the heart of this digital dominance is the physical control of Africa’s internet lifelines. Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Amazon own or control most of the undersea fibre-optic cables that carry the continent’s internet traffic. By holding the keys to these “digital shipping lanes,” they determine the flow of data, creating a bottleneck that echoes historical colonial control over trade routes. EXTRACTING AFRICA’S DATA GOLD Critics say the most valuable resource being extracted today is not rubber or gold, but data. Platforms like Google Search, Android, and Facebook vacuum up enormous amounts of user information, often with minimal oversight. This data trains artificial intelligence systems and fuels advertising profits—profits that largely leave Africa, deepening economic dependency. The dominance of foreign platforms has also sidelined local businesses. Services like Uber, Netflix, and Jumia dictate the terms of engagement for Africa’s digital economy, with entire ecosystems relying on technologies and platforms they do not own. In some regions, Google and Facebook reign supreme in online advertising, while companies like Huawei dominate critical 4G infrastructure. Reports suggest that an hour-long outage on these systems could cripple local institutions. ECHOES OF OLD EXPLOITATION The methods of digital colonialism evoke unsettling parallels to Africa’s colonial past. Labour exploitation remains a pressing issue, with Africa often serving as a testing ground for new technologies. The darker side of the supply chain includes cobalt mining—essential for smartphone and battery production—where children and vulnerable workers toil for minimal returns. Facebook’s “Free Basics” programme has been singled out as a form of digital gatekeeping. By offering a curated, limited internet experience to mobile users, Facebook captures vast amounts of data while suppressing the growth of local digital alternatives. Algorithmic bias further silences African voices, with platforms mistakenly flagging or removing legitimate local content because their systems are built for Western contexts.The post American IT corporations pursuing policy of “digital enslavement” of Europe & Africa appeared first on The Observer.