Designated gatekeepers begin complying with the Digital Markets Act

From today, tech giants Apple, Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, Microsoft and ByteDance, identified as gatekeepers by the European Commission in September 2023, are required to comply with all obligations set out in the Markets Act digital (AMD). The DMA, designed to strengthen competition and fairness in digital markets within the EU, introduces new regulations for key platform services such as search engines, online marketplaces, app stores , online advertising and messaging. These regulations aim to provide European businesses and consumers with new rights.

Gatekeepers proactively tested measures to align with the DMA before the deadline, seeking feedback from external parties. Starting today, gatekeepers must demonstrate compliance with the DMA and detail actions taken in compliance reports. These reports, publicly available on the Commission’s dedicated DMA webpage, also require gatekeepers to provide independently verified descriptions of consumer profiling techniques, as well as non-confidential versions of the reports.

The Commission will meticulously review compliance reports to assess the effectiveness of the measures implemented to achieve the objectives of the DMA. This assessment will take into account stakeholder feedback, including information shared during compliance workshops where controllers present their strategies.

Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, responsible for competition policy, highlighted the transformative impact of the DMA on online markets. She highlighted the Act’s role in promoting the openness and competitiveness of small businesses while providing consumers with more affordable choices. Vestager expressed confidence in the potential of the DMA to reshape digital market dynamics for the benefit of all European participants and users.

Commissioner Thierry Breton, responsible for the internal market, underlined the importance of this day as a milestone for the European digital landscape. Breton highlighted the strict obligations and enforcement mechanisms of the DMA, including sanctions for non-compliance. He noted positive changes in the market landscape, such as the emergence of alternative app stores and increased user control over data, attributing these changes to ongoing dialogues with gatekeepers. Breton warned of harsh sanctions, including the possibility of dismantling non-compliant companies, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to respecting the principles of the DMA.

The implementation of the DMA represents a pivotal moment in the regulation of digital markets, signaling a concerted effort to promote competition, fairness and user empowerment within the sector. European digital ecosystem.