European Commission to Probe Apple, Google, and Meta for Potential Digital Markets Act Violations

The European Commission is poised to launch investigations into tech giants Apple, Meta Platforms (formerly Facebook), and Alphabet's Google over potential violations of the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to Reuters and sources familiar with the matter.

Reports suggest that the Commission is likely to announce these probes in the coming days, with decisions expected before the end of the term for EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager in November.

The DMA investigations come amidst concerns that these companies may have failed to fully comply with the regulations set forth by the EU. Breaches under the DMA could lead to penalties of up to 10% of the companies' global annual turnover. The Digital Markets Act aims to ensure fair competition by requiring tech giants to provide users and competitors with more choices, thereby fostering a level playing field in the digital sphere.

The European Commission declined to comment on the reports, while Apple, Meta, and Google have yet to respond to requests for comment regarding the impending investigations.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU's antitrust chief, recently expressed concerns over Apple and Meta's new fees for their services, suggesting that such actions could hinder users from fully benefiting from the DMA regulations. She also criticized tactics employed by certain companies to undermine rival products or services, discouraging users from switching—a practice she deemed unwise.

The news of the forthcoming probes was initially reported by Bloomberg earlier this week, signaling heightened scrutiny over the market dominance and practices of these tech behemoths in the European Union.

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