(BOSTON 12/16/2025) — Last week, Senator Michael Moore participated in the Transatlantic Tech Exchange, meeting with European Union officials, experts, and academics to discuss the state of technology regulation policy. The trip brought together influential policymakers from the United States and Europe to engage in conversations related to artificial intelligence safeguards, AI innovation, and data privacy. Senator Moore was part of a bipartisan delegation that also included Utah State Representative Doug Fiefia and Virginia State Delegate Michelle Maldonado for visits to Paris and Brussels where conversations with their counterparts helped deepen their understanding of technology policy debates in the European Union.

The trip was organized by the German Marshall Fund of the United States (GMF), with funding from the Project Liberty Institute (PLI).

“Europe and the United States may be separated by an ocean, but we are facing the same fork in the road when it comes to artificial intelligence regulation and data privacy policy,” said Senator Michael Moore (D-Millbury). “It is clear that the EU is steps ahead of the US when it comes to tech policy, with legislation like the landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law and the world-first EU AI Act. This opportunity to have in-depth conversations with lawmakers and experts who were instrumental in crafting these laws gives us invaluable knowledge on their approach to regulating big tech companies and how we can best foster innovation while protecting the most fundamental rights of everyday people.”

“The Transatlantic Tech Exchange aims to build trust and mutual understanding between American and European lawmakers across the political spectrum,” said GMF Technology Senior Program Coordinator Adrienne Goldstein. “The December trip shed light on European regulatory priorities, drivers of competitiveness, ongoing state AI regulatory efforts, and opportunities for global collaboration on kids' safety and AI redlines.”

Key takeaways from the trip include a strong emphasis that regulation does not stifle innovation; rather regulation challenges entrepreneurs in ways that result in a stronger, more innovative product that respects the privacy of the people. Another conclusion was the importance of comprehensive action; one policy encompassing the whole of the states is more effective than dozens of individual policies. This, however, is complicated by President Donald Trump’s executive order banning all state-level AI regulations, and congressional Republicans’ disinterest in passing comprehensive national policies regarding AI and tech companies. Until current federal officials’ attitude changes, or new leadership is elected to office, state-level regulation is the best path forward to address the worst drawbacks of new technologies, including AI-generated child pornography, predatory algorithms, dangerous misinformation campaigns, and more.

In response to questions about whether regulation plays a significant role in the reasoning why more startups seem to come from American entrepreneurs rather than Europeans, officials explained that the primary reason is due to the availability of private financing and investment. They found that, while regulatory environment is a factor in an individual’s decision of where to start a company, the primary competitive advantage for the US is the strength of its capital – leaving a significant opening for common-sense American regulation that does not materially change the attractiveness of the country.

“The US and the EU aren’t so different,” stated Senator Moore. “The lessons we learn from each other will help us build a smarter, safer, and more responsible future. I’d like to thank the German Marshall Fund and Project Liberty Institute, as well as all the lawmakers and academics we met with, for making this exchange of ideas possible.”

German Marshall Fund of the United States describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan policy organization committed to the idea that the United States and Europe are stronger together.

Project Liberty Institute is a private, independent, non-profit foundation, which describes itself as dedicated to advancing democratic values and digital governance to shape a people-centered digital economy.

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