Lisbon to Host Europe's Major Tech Conference

By Martin Coulter

LISBON (Reuters) – This week, Lisbon will host Europe’s largest annual tech conference, Web Summit, where industry leaders and lawmakers will discuss the implications of Donald Trump’s potential return to the White House.

Senior executives from companies such as Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT), and Meta (NASDAQ:META) will engage with high-ranking European officials in discussions regarding the future of artificial intelligence, social media regulation, and the possible effects of a second Trump presidency on Europe.

Trump has previously claimed he could resolve the war between Ukraine and Russia within 24 hours of taking office. Following Trump's re-election, two senior Ukrainian officials, Alex Bornyakov and Mykhailo Fedorov, will address the audience about the ongoing innovations in Ukraine amidst conflict.

John Adam, the chief revenue officer at software development firm Aimsoftpro, is among the attendees. About 70% of his company’s workforce remains in Ukraine, while others have relocated across Europe due to the war since 2022.

> “There’s mixed feelings because the Trump approach looks like it’s more geared towards the present lines of conflict, which is not an ideal scenario for Ukraine, and there’s a reluctance to accept that. At the same time, we would like this to have an endpoint,” he commented.

The X Factor

Although tech billionaire Elon Musk, a vocal Trump supporter, is not expected to attend, his influence will be a recurring topic. From his role in Ukraine through the satellite service Starlink to his achievements with SpaceX and controversial management of X (formerly Twitter), Musk is a central figure in various discussions.

One panel will explore how Europe might create a competitive alternative to SpaceX, while another will assess whether Musk has “destroyed Twitter.” Joe Benarroch, former head of business operations at X, will participate in the panel titled “What to Do About Social Media.”

Despite the EU's attempts to curb harmful content on online platforms, Trump's election may push them towards less moderation, according to Mark Weinstein, founder of the privacy-focused platform MeWe. He will join Benarroch on Wednesday.

> “Historically, Trump has been highly critical of online moderation,” Weinstein said. “To avoid political retribution, major social networks are likely to continue the trend of becoming significantly more permissive with content they allow on their platforms.”