European Union Says Apple, Google and Meta Do Not Comply with Digital Markets Law

European Union Says Apple, Google and Meta Do Not Comply with Digital Markets Law

European Union regulators opened investigations into Apple, Google and Meta for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act. 

European Union regulators opened investigations into Apple, Google and Meta for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

 - European Union regulators opened investigations into Apple, Google and Meta on Monday, the first cases under a new law designed to stop big tech companies cornering digital markets. 

Reported by AP News, the European Commission, the executive body of the 27-nation bloc, said it was investigating the companies for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act. 

The Digital Markets Act, which came into full effect earlier this month, is a sweeping rulebook targeting large tech “gatekeeper” companies that provide “core platform services.”

These companies must adhere to a series of dos and don'ts, under threat of large financial fines or even dissolution of the business. 

The regulations have a broad but unclear goal, namely to make digital markets “fairer” and “more contestable” by breaking up closed technology ecosystems that lock consumers to one company's products or services. 

The Commission has heard complaints that technology companies are not complying with the policy, European Commission Vice President Margrethe Vestager, the bloc's competition chief, said at a news conference in Brussels. 

“Today, we decided to investigate a number of these alleged non-compliance issues. And when we find other problems, we will address them as well.”

The decision drew immediate pushback from industry groups such as the Computer & Communications Industries Association, a nonprofit trade group in Washington that represents technology and communications companies. 

European Union regulators opened investigations into Apple, Google and Meta for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act. Photo: REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration

“The timing of this announcement, while DMA compliance workshops are still ongoing, makes it appear as if the Commission will take action,” the group said in a prepared statement. 

“In addition to the possible outcomes, this move risks underscoring industry concerns that the DMA compliance process may be politicized.”

The companies have been ordered to retain certain documents that can be accessed by the commission in current and future investigations, he said. (*)