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Max von Thun

Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships

 

Max von Thun is the Director of Europe & Transatlantic Partnerships at the Open Markets Institute. He leads Open Markets’ research and advocacy in Europe alongside efforts to bring about greater alignment in transatlantic anti-monopoly policy and enforcement. 

Von Thun’s work touches on a range of antitrust and competition issues in Europe, with a particular focus on technology and new legislative frameworks targeting Big Tech’s market power. Prior to joining Open Markets, von Thun advised UK Parliamentarians on economic policy, led the research program at think-tank the Centre for Entrepreneurs, and worked as a consultant on EU and UK technology and competition policy. He has written influential reports on a range of topics including AI regulation, the future of work, wealth taxation and small business policy. Von Thun’s writing has appeared in publications including the Guardian, the Times, Tech Policy Press and Euractiv. He is regularly quoted as an expert on European competition and technology issues in the media, including Politico, Reuters, Bloomberg, Wired and Time.

Von Thun holds a bachelor’s degree in international relations and philosophy from the University of Southern California, and a master’s in international public policy from University College London. He originally hails from London, but these days calls Brussels home.

 
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Over 70 Public Interest Orgs Urge European Commission to Reject Google’s AdTech Remedies
Over 70 Public Interest Orgs Urge European Commission to Reject Google’s AdTech Remedies

Open Markets Institute helped craft a letter with more than 70 press freedom organisations, businesses, experts, and think tanks urging the European Commission to reject Google’s proposed remedies in the adtech antitrust case.

The European Commission Launches Aggressive Enforcement Actions to Protect AI Competition and Democracy
The European Commission Launches Aggressive Enforcement Actions to Protect AI Competition and Democracy

Europe director Max von Thun spotlights the EU’s new antitrust investigations into Google and Meta mark a crucial step toward preventing Big Tech from using its platform power to dominate AI, exploit creators, and undermine competition and democratic access to information.

Project Syndicate - Europe’s Tech Firms Need Regulation to Grow
Project Syndicate - Europe’s Tech Firms Need Regulation to Grow

Europe director Max von Thun argues that Europe’s response to Trump-era pressure on digital regulation must combine tough enforcement against Big Tech with major investment in homegrown technology, warning that efforts to weaken landmark laws like the AI Act and GDPR threaten European sovereignty and democratic security.

Testimony before the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee
Testimony before the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee

Europe director Max von Thun briefed in a testimony the European Parliament’s Internal Market Committee on Europe’s deep dependence on U.S. cloud giants, urging lawmakers to use existing regulatory tools to open the market and ensure Europe can build sovereign, resilient cloud and AI infrastructure.

European Commission to Investigate Cloud Computing Services
European Commission to Investigate Cloud Computing Services

Open Markets welcomes the European Commission’s three market investigations on cloud computing services under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Open Markets Condemns Google's Paltry AdTech Remedies in the EU Case
Open Markets Condemns Google's Paltry AdTech Remedies in the EU Case

In a statement from Max von Thun, Open Markets condemns Google’s insufficient remedies, proposed in the EU, regarding its conflicts of interests in the adtech stack.

Open Markets Submits Review of the Digital Markets Act - Considerations on Cloud and AI
Open Markets Submits Review of the Digital Markets Act - Considerations on Cloud and AI

The Open Markets Institute Europe submitted observations to the European Commission as part of its consultation on the review of the Digital Markets Act (“DMA”).

The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI
The Future of Democracy: Speech, Thought, Sovereignty, and Power in the Age of Platforms and AI

The Open Markets Institute and ARTICLE 19 hosted on October 15th & 16th a convening of high-level leading thinkers, lawmakers, technologists, and advocates who discussed the direct and growing threats to our democracies and basic liberties posed by today’s dominant online communications platforms, the rise of AI, and interference by foreign states. 

New Policy Brief Warns: U.S. “Free Speech” Attacks Threaten Europe’s Sovereignty and Democracy
New Policy Brief Warns: U.S. “Free Speech” Attacks Threaten Europe’s Sovereignty and Democracy

CJL director Dr. Courtney Radsch and Europe director Max von Thun author a brief arguing that dominant U.S. platforms such as Google, Meta and X wield unprecedented power to manipulate political discourse, censor individuals and organizations, and shape the flow of information across Europe, the United States and beyond. At the same time, and in coordination with these corporations, the current U.S. administration has launched an “unprecedented assault” on Europe’s right to regulate these corporations in the public interest.

Pro Market - The EU Must Revise Its Merger Guidelines To Strengthen Innovation, Security, and Democracy
Pro Market - The EU Must Revise Its Merger Guidelines To Strengthen Innovation, Security, and Democracy

Max von Thun, Europe Director at the Open Markets Institute, co-authored a piece with fellow Claire Lavin urging the European Commission to revise its merger guidelines. They argue that competition policy must look beyond prices to safeguard innovation, security, and democracy—ensuring a stronger and more resilient European Union.