The Digital Markets Act (DMA), which came into force at the beginning of the month, was intended to limit the occurrence of the so-called bottlenecks in the world of technology. She had, among others, force the largest companies not to favor their platforms inside their devices. The regulations have not been in force for even a month, and the European Commission is already announcing an investigation into their violation. Apple, Meta and Alphabet (the owner of Google) are under the microscope.
The European Commission is taking up “self-preferences”
Apple and Alphabet have been accused of favoring their own services and limiting the offers of others. In the case of Apple, it is primarily about applications available in the so-called store. AppStore and those already installed on the phone. The European Commission demands that the company allow its users to uninstall all applications from the phone and use their equivalents. For example, on Apple phones, the standard browser is Safari, created by Apple.
However, when it comes to Alphabet, the accusation is analogous. Applies to promoting Google apps in the Google Play Store. It is also checked whether Google search results may favor the company’s services. In Brussels, they are afraid of self-preference that is unfair to the competition.
Meta’s services raise completely different concerns. Let us remind you that this technological concern includes, among others: Facebook and Instagram. The European Commission raises concerns about whether the company provides users with sufficient choice regarding the use of their personal data for advertising purposes. The “pay or consent” rule is particularly controversial.
Big problems for American giants
– We have been in discussions with companies for months to help them adapt and we are already seeing changes taking place in the market. However, we are not convinced that Alphabet, Apple and Meta’s solutions are consistent with their commitments to a fairer and more open digital space for European citizens and businesses. If our investigation shows that they are not fully compliant with the DMA, they could face heavy fines, said Thierry Breton, Commissioner for the Internal Market.
The penalties can indeed be very severe. The European Commission warns that it may impose a fine of up to 10%. their global turnover. The investigation is expected to last 12 months. It is possible that similar charges will soon be brought against other companies.
The European Commission has issued five retention orders for documents that could be used to assess their compliance with DMA obligations, in order to preserve available evidence and ensure effective enforcement. It has been published for Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft. It is checked, among others: Can Amazon promote its own brand products in the Amazon Store?
Source: Gazeta
Mabel is a talented author and journalist with a passion for all things technology. As an experienced writer for the 247 News Agency, she has established a reputation for her in-depth reporting and expert analysis on the latest developments in the tech industry.
