Digital Markets Act

The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a landmark piece of legislation designed to regulate large online platforms, designated as 'gatekeepers,' to ensure fairer competition in the digital market. These gatekeepers, which include major tech companies like Google and Apple, are subject to a list of 'dos' and 'don'ts' aimed at preventing anti-competitive practices. The DMA is particularly newsworthy due to recent enforcement actions and legal challenges. For instance, Google was fined €890 million for prioritizing its own services in search results and app store practices, violating the DMA. Apple has also lost legal challenges against the DMA's designation of its app stores and iOS as gatekeeper services. The act's significance lies in its potential to reshape the digital landscape by fostering a more competitive environment, giving smaller rivals a better chance to thrive, and imposing substantial penalties, up to 10% of global annual turnover, for non-compliance.