CNN is not the only news outlets that won't question that obvious and peculiar pattern, perhaps it has something to do with their CEO (like most media CEOs) asking regulators to go after Google/Facebook: https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/cnn-jeff-zucker-google...
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/06/27/the-largest-fines-dished-out...
2) Perhaps if it's mostly US companies it's because they are more abusive of their market power, a mentality incubated in the lobbying culture of American politics and corresponding spinelessness of regulators.
As for "protectionism" - maybe UE companies simply follow the rules better instead of trying to extort maximum possible and playing in grey area?