The DMA, effective since March 7, aims to address concerns regarding the dominance of these companies by facilitating greater competition in the digital marketplace. Under the provisions of the DMA, violations could result in fines of up to 10% of the companies’ global annual turnover, according to Reuters. The law targets “gatekeepers,” such as search engines and app stores, requiring them to provide users and rivals with more choices to foster competition.
While the tech companies have asserted efforts to comply with the DMA, the European Commission suspected these measures may be insufficient. Specific concerns revolve around issues like Apple’s compliance with obligations regarding app uninstallation and default settings on its iOS operating system and potential limitations imposed by Apple and Alphabet that hinder app developers from informing users about alternative offers outside their platforms.
Regarding Meta Platforms, the investigation will focus on whether it favors its own services over rivals’ offerings and whether it discriminates against third-party services in Google search results. Additionally, the Commission scrutinized Apple and Alphabet’s fee structures, which were deemed to conflict with the DMA’s requirement for certain services to be offered free of charge.
Responding to these allegations, Apple expressed confidence in its compliance with the DMA, emphasizing its responsiveness to feedback from the Commission and developers. Meta Platforms defended its subscription-based model, citing it as a response to regulatory obligations under the DMA.
Google stated that it has made significant changes to its services and intends to defend its approach in the face of regulatory scrutiny. Amazon, another company under investigation, asserted its compliance with the DMA and its commitment to meeting regulatory standards.
The EU executive aims to conclude the investigations within a year, during which the companies are required to retain relevant documents for scrutiny. These investigations come amid mounting criticism from app developers and business users regarding perceived inadequacies in the companies’ compliance efforts with EU regulations.
