Europeans are witnessing significant changes in their digital experiences this week, as six tech giants labeled as “gatekeepers” — Amazon, Apple, Google’s parent company Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance — begin implementing adjustments required under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). These changes affect default browsers and search engines, the downloading of iPhone apps, and the use of personal online data.
The DMA, part of the European Union’s efforts to regulate large tech companies, requires these companies to make changes to ensure fairer and more contestable digital markets. Tech giants have started adapting their long-standing business practices, with Apple, for instance, now allowing users to download smartphone apps outside of its App Store.
The new regulations cover 22 services, ranging from operating systems to messenger apps and social media platforms. They include Google services like Maps, YouTube, the Chrome browser, and the Android operating system, as well as Amazon’s Marketplace and Apple’s Safari Browser and iOS. Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, along with Microsoft’s Windows and LinkedIn, are also included.
Companies that fail to comply with the rules face hefty fines of up to 20% of their annual global revenue for repeated violations, or even the breakup of their businesses for “systematic infringements.”
The DMA is part of Europe’s broader efforts to rein in the dominance of large tech companies. The bloc has previously fined Google in antitrust cases, introduced strict rules for social media, and is now implementing world-first artificial intelligence regulations.
The impact of the DMA is not limited to Europe; countries like Japan, Britain, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and India are also developing their own versions of DMA-like rules to prevent tech companies from dominating digital markets.
