EU’s Four Key Technologies It’s Defending Against China

European Commission Identifies High‑Risk Tech Areas for Authoritarian Abuse

Key Technology Domains

• AI‑powered surveillance tools – enabling real‑time monitoring of citizens.
• Facial recognition systems – facilitating covert tracking and profiling.
• Digital disinformation platforms – used to manipulate public opinion.
• Encrypted communication networks – providing secure channels for illicit coordination.

Implications for Human Rights

The Commission warns that these technologies, when misappropriated, can embolden oppressive regimes to suppress dissent, curtail freedom of expression, and target political adversaries. The potential for mass data collection without safeguards raises serious concerns about privacy violations and wrongful detention.

Commission’s Next Steps

In response, the Commission plans to establish a regulatory framework defining strict export controls, enforce transparent oversight mechanisms, and collaborate with civil‑society partners to monitor the deployment of these tools. Its aim is to reduce the likelihood that such technologies will be weaponised against vulnerable populations.

EU Prepares Comprehensive Risk Assessment of Advanced Technologies

European authorities are conducting a rigorous review of emerging high‑tech products—such as microchips, AI systems, quantum processors, and genetic engineering tools—to evaluate their potential impact on the Union’s collective security.

Stakeholder‑Led Analysis

This assessment will involve:

• In‑depth consultations with the 27 member states
• Collaboration with the private sector
• A report of identified high‑risk technologies expected to be published in the spring

Potential Policy Implications

If certain technologies are flagged as highly vulnerable, the EU may impose:

• Trade restrictions or export bans
• Investment screening measures
• Policy debates among capitals concerned about Brussels’ influence over national affairs

Strategic Context: The “De‑risking” Initiative

Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, introduced the “de‑risking” strategy to reduce the bloc’s long‑standing exposure to foreign dependencies. The first tangible outcome of this strategy was unveiled on Tuesday, marking a significant milestone.

Underlying Motivations

While the policy emerged in discussions of EU‑China ties, it reflects a broader reaction to:

• Human‑rights concerns in Xinjiang
• Global health challenges linked to pandemic origins
• Russia’s military actions in Ukraine
• Tensions in the Taiwan Strait

China’s Indirect Role

The published document deliberately omits direct mention of China, yet the nation’s influence remains evident in the risk‑assessment framework. The EU, alongside its G7 partners, has repeatedly criticized Beijing for:

• Continuing domestic repression
• Adopting an increasingly assertive stance on international issues
• Utilizing coercision, retaliation, and disinformation practices

Despite these criticisms, engaging with China poses significant challenges. The country maintains substantial control over critical supply chains—solar panels, batteries, electric vehicles—that are essential to the EU’s decarbonization and modernization goals. Beijing has demonstrated a willingness to leverage these assets strategically to deter global critics, complicating the Union’s efforts to safeguard its technological independence.

‘A player, not a playground’

EU Enhances Technological Resilience Against Geopolitical Repercussions

Strategic Rationale

Facing a landscape where deep‑rooted dependencies can be weaponised against national security, Brussels is advocating for a robust containment strategy. By protecting core industries, the European Union aims to safeguard employment and maintain competitive integrity.

Věra Jourová, Vice‑President of the European Commission, emphasized that technology drives contemporary geopolitical rivalry. “The EU must be an active contender, not a passive playground,” she stated.

Meanwhile, Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market, added: “We act in the broader interest of our citizens. If an over‑dependency threatens a critical supply chain, we act swiftly—there’s no time to wait.”

Risk Assessment Focus Areas

On Tuesday, Brussels launched a comprehensive risk assessment targeting four high‑impact technologies selected for their transformative potential and susceptibility to misuse in military or human‑rights contexts:

• Advanced Semiconductors – microelectronics, photonics, high‑frequency chips, and manufacturing equipment.
• Artificial Intelligence – encompassing high‑performance computing, cloud and edge solutions, data analytics, computer vision, language processing, and object recognition.
• Quantum Technologies – covering computing, cryptography, communications, sensing, and radar.
• Biotechnology – including genetic modification, new genomic methods, gene drives, and synthetic biology.

Consultation & Finalization Process

Member states, industry experts, and private sector representatives will review and provide feedback on the analysis. Confidential inputs are encouraged to deliver a nuanced view of the potential pitfalls and side effects.

Based on these consultations, Brussels will present a refined list of the most sensitive technologies in spring—one that could be narrower than the current set.

Broader Tech Landscape

Concurrently, six additional sectors are earmarked for future risk assessment. These include:

• Virtual reality
• Cyber‑security
• Sensors
• Space navigation
• Nuclear reactors
• Hydrogen, batteries, drones, and robotics

Breton reiterated, “We remain committed to evaluating all remaining critical areas.”

Outcome

By foregrounding these technologies, Brussels seeks to establish a resilient, self‑reliant EU tech ecosystem capable of withstanding external pressures and safeguarding essential services for its citizens.

Controlling and screening

EU Faces Trade Security Dilemma

After the final list of restricted goods is released, the exact repercussions remain uncertain.
Senior Commission officials have outlined three broad routes:

• Promote domestically produced alternatives

• Forge alliances with like‑minded nations

• Implement safeguards against economic threats

It is the last path—protective measures—that could see the bloc impose new trade barriers.

Key Precedent: The Netherlands

Earlier this year the Netherlands halted the export of advanced microchip technology to China, citing potential “undesirable” applications.
The Dutch move set the tone for the Commission’s first economic security strategy, which was adopted in June.

Outbound Investment Screening

As part of that strategy, the executive is developing a tool to scrutinize investment projects undertaken by EU firms abroad.
The mechanism will be rolled out before year’s end and applies only to ventures that pose a high risk of knowledge leakage or security threats.

Resistance from Member States

Both tighter export controls and outbound investment oversight are likely to face pushback from states wary of alienating China.
They fear losing access to a lucrative market and therefore oppose measures that might harm bilateral trade.

Case Study: Anti‑Subsidy Inquiry on China‑Made EVs

Germany’s response to the Commission’s anti‑subsidy probe was mixed.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz asserted that the EU’s economic model should hinge on product appeal, not protectionism.

Shift in European Thinking

Brussels is now openly discussing trade flows through the lens of national security—a radical departure from an era that prized open markets and low tariffs as conduits for liberal democracy.

In this new paradigm, technology rigidly determines global leaders and laggards.

Expert Commentary

Agathe Demarais, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, remarked:

“These stringent policies demonstrate how Western Europe is ready to enforce measures once deemed unthinkable.
Yet, capturing the support of firms in de‑risking initiatives will be a challenge.
Despite the hype, two‑thirds of EU organisations have no plans to divert from China.”