Here are the changes tech companies are implementing to comply with new law
European consumers saw big changes to apps, social media, and webpages as the largest tech companies came into compliance with EU law this week.
The six companies designated as “gatekeepers” under the EU’s Digital Markets Act needed to enforce the new rules by March 7, with the European Commission able to impose fines of up to 10 per cent of the company’s global turnover in the event of an infringement.
Some of the changes for consumers in the EU included options to change their default browsers and new opportunities for where they can download iPhone apps.
The companies impacted are Amazon, Apple, Google parent company Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance, which were designated “gatekeepers” in September 2023.
“Our new set of rules will now make online markets more open and contestable for small, innovative businesses to also get a fair chance of making it,” Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy, said in a statement.
“And as consumers, we will have more affordable options online. This will deeply change how online markets work and open up the digital marketplace, for the benefit of all European players, and users,” she added.
The companies impacted are Amazon, Apple, Google parent company Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance, which were designated “gatekeepers” in September 2023.
“Our new set of rules will now make online markets more open and contestable for small, innovative businesses to also get a fair chance of making it,” Margrethe Vestager, Executive Vice-President in charge of competition policy, said in a statement.
“And as consumers, we will have more affordable options online. This will deeply change how online markets work and open up the digital marketplace, for the benefit of all European players, and users,” she added.
