STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Apple expressed its concerns about privacy and security risks associated with the new EU Digital Markets Act (DMA) after the European Commission labeled it and five other major tech companies as “gatekeepers” of online services.
In a statement, Apple stated, “Our focus will be on how we mitigate these impacts and continue to deliver the very best products and services to our European customers.”
According to the DMA, businesses classified as gatekeepers will be obligated to ensure interoperability of their messaging apps with competitors and allow users to decide which apps to pre-install on their devices.
Microsoft accepted its designation as a gatekeeper, but it also welcomed the commission’s decision to initiate an investigation regarding a potential exemption for Microsoft’s services Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Ads from the DMA.
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, stated that it is currently evaluating the commission’s designation.
“We fully support the goals of the DMA to promote fair and open digital markets,” said Microsoft in a statement. “We are committed to collaborating with regulators to ensure compliance and an environment that fosters competition and innovation.”
The EU Digital Markets Act is part of a package of digital regulations introduced by the European Commission to increase transparency, competition, and accountability in the digital world.
These regulations aim to prevent large tech companies from abusing their dominant positions and to create a level playing field for smaller businesses.
The DMA has been met with mixed responses from major tech companies. While some have accepted their designation, others are concerned about potential impacts on their operations and are evaluating their options.
Apple and other designated gatekeepers will need to address the privacy and security risks identified by the company while ensuring compliance with the DMA to continue providing their products and services to European customers.
Reporting by Supantha Mukherjee, writing by Bart Meijer; Editing by Benoit Van Overstraeten
Credit: The Star : Tech Feed
