From today, the big tech companies must comply with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This law is intended to prevent Amazon, Apple, Google & Co. from abusing their power and expanding their monopoly position. But there is a threat of inadequate enforcement – which is why we and many other organizations have written to the EU Commission today. We are calling for a strict approach to infringements and more resources for effective enforcement of the DMA.
The DMA increases our freedom of choice and creates more freedom for aalternative Providers. The law is an important step towards ensuring fairer competitive conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises, to protect consumers, workers and democracy. Thus, d he major digital platforms, the so-calledgatekeepers, should no longer favor their own services over those of third-party providers. Users should be able to decide for themselves which browser, which virtual assistant and which search engine they want to use. There should be selection screens for this. They should also be able to install apps via app stores other than the Apple or Google App Store. Interoperability is to be gradually created for social media, so that in future it will also be possible to write to Whatsapp users from other messengers, for example (more details here).
However, it is becoming apparent that the tech companies only want to comply with the law to a limited extent. Their adaptation proposals are often inadequate. Apple’s plans for new app store rules, for example, have been the subject of much criticism. If digital companies violate the rules, they could face penalties. In the event of systematic violations, the EU Commission could also order the break-up of companies as a last resort.
However, the EU Commission’s resources for effective monitoring and enforcement are limited. There is a looming gap in the implementation of the DMA, which we as civil society are not prepared to accept. That is why we are calling on the EU Commission to act as an enforcement authority:
- The Commission must respond quickly and decisively to all breaches of the law. Timely enforcement is important to deter gatekeepers from further violations.
- Gatekeepers must submit comprehensive reports that enable affected third parties to participate in the enforcement process. Incomplete reports must be immediately rejected by the Commission. Transparency is crucial to ensure that third parties can hold gatekeepers and regulators accountable.
- Additional resources are required for the proper implementation of the DMA. Gatekeepers themselves should make a financial contribution to their supervision. This would allow the Commission to hire additional staff – a crucial factor for effective enforcement.
Here is our letter to the EU Commission in English
