By 
The upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) will prioritize app stores, according to Margrethe Vestager, the European Union’s competition chief. Vestager highlighted the importance of ensuring fair access for smaller app stores to operating systems, stating that users should have the option to choose from multiple app stores on their devices. This emphasis on app stores aligns with the DMA’s comprehensive approach to addressing potential market abuses by major tech companies operating within the EU.
Scheduled for implementation on Thursday (March 7), the DMA will cover various aspects of tech giants’ operations, including operating systems, app stores, and platforms. The legislation allows for fines of up to 10% of a company’s annual worldwide revenue, rising to 20% for repeat offenders.
During an interview with Bloomberg TV, Vestager mentioned that the DMA outlines fee structures for tech companies and cautioned against making plans that are “unattractive” to clients and users. She clarified that the EU’s scrutiny of tech giants is not biased against U.S. companies but aims to maintain an open and dynamic market for competitors worldwide.
In recent DMA-related developments, there are indications that X, ByteDance, and Booking.com may be added to the EU’s “gatekeeper” list. This list mandates that tech companies ensure interoperability of their messaging apps with rivals, allowing users to choose which apps to preinstall on their devices. Current gatekeepers include Meta, Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, and Alphabet. ByteDance was designated a gatekeeper last year, although its social media platform TikTok has contested this classification.
Moreover, Meta announced in January that it would provide European users with more choices in how they consume the company’s services, such as Instagram and Facebook, as part of its efforts to comply with the DMA.
Comments