The European commission has imposed fines for a total of 700 million euros to American technology companies Appley target for violations of the Digital Markets Law (Digital Markets Act, DMA).
The decision occurs at a time of growing transatlantic tensions. Although US President Donald Trump had announced a 90 -day suspension to punitive tariffs provided against the European Union – after Brussels, he also suspended his retaliation tariffs on steel and aluminum -, the current measure of the commission could further aggravate the situation. However, Brussels officially insists that the sanctions applied within the framework of the DMA are independent of the ongoing tariff negotiations.
A law to promote competition
The Digital Markets Law aims to guarantee fair competition conditions in the digital economy. It is focused on platforms with greater market power, the so -called “access guardians” or gatekeepers.
The legislation is applicable throughout the EU since 2023. That same year, the European Commission first identified online suppliers Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Bytedance, Meta and Microsoft as gatekeepers. If any of them breaches the provisions, the commission can impose sanctions of up to 10 percent of its annual global turnover, and up to 20 percent in case of recidivism.
Apple under pressure
The procedures against Apple and Meta already began in March 2024. In the case of Apple, the investigation initially focused on the so -called “redirection” clause (steering): The company would have prevented application developers from informing their users about cheaper offers outside the App Store, which constitutes a clear infraction of the DMA, according to the commission now. Therefore, Apple must pay 500 million euros and eliminate these restrictions.
In addition, the Commission published preliminary results on another aspect: the alternative distribution of applications in iOS devices. Although Apple formally allows third -party stores and Apps download stores via web, according to the EU the conditions imposed are so restrictive, expensive and not very friendly to the user who have a deterrent effect. It is especially criticized a new “central technology rate” (Core Technology Fee) that taxes external suppliers.
Criticism of the Meta Business model
Meta was also subject to the attention of the commission, specifically for its consent or payment model (Consent-or-Pay), introduced in 2023. This system forces Facebooke users to accept the extensive use of their personal data or pay for an advertising version. According to the EU, this does not constitute a real option for users, which is why a fine of 200 million euros was imposed.
Alphabet and X also under investigation
The Commission maintains open procedures against other US companies. Alphabet, the Google matrix, is under suspicion of favoring its own services in the search results and hindering suppliers in Google Play to lead users to external offers. Alphabet has the possibility of presenting allegations.
Some procedures are framed under the Digital Services Law (Digital Services Act, DSA), which fights, among other aspects, illegal contents on the Internet. In case of infraction, the European Commission can impose fines of up to 6 percent and coercive sanctions of up to 5 % of the annual business volume.
Under this law, Meta and Amazon are also investigated. The most media and apparently more advanced case is the procedure against platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Trump’s billionaire and advisor, Elon Musk. According to him New York Timesthe European Commission prepares significant sanctions against the company, which could be announced this summer.
Politically sensitive land
In Brussels it is insisted that these procedures develop independently of the current commercial conflicts with the United States. “We will not mix them with our negotiations with the US.” The spokesman of the European Commission, Olof Gill, told in early March.
However, some observers think differently. Giulia Torchio, Del think tank European Policy Center in Brussels, points out that in some Member States digital legislation is perceived as currency in negotiations. In conversation with DW, the political analyst emphasizes that these laws protect the rights of EU citizens. If they are used as a negotiation instrument with the US, the signal that is willing to yield in fundamental democratic principles would be sent.
Both tariffs and sanctions in the context of digital laws differ from an eventual digital rate. It would tax the benefits of technological companies in the country where they are generated. A proposal in that sense of the European Commission in 2018 initially failed due to lack of consensus among the Member States.
Subsequently, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) assumed work around that rate. Although in recent years the issue lost visibility, it has once again been debated in recent weeks.
(gg/ers)
