Europe passes new laws to limit high-tech dominance.
Written byTimes Magazine
European legislators have approved new rules meant to limit the dominance of big tech companies.
Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), giants like Google and Apple will be forced to open up their services and platforms to other companies.
Big tech companies have long been criticized for using their market dominance to beat the competition.
"What we want is simple: a fair market ... in digital technology," said EU cartel boss Margrethe Vestager.
"Large portal platforms have prevented businesses and consumers from taking advantage of the competitive digital marketplace," he said.
The notice is the EU's most significant regulatory move to counter what it describes as "antitrust" or anti-competitive behavior by most US-based tech companies. Under the proposed Digital Markets Act, Apple would be forced to open its app store for third-party payment options rather than forcing users to use Apple's payment system.
This is something Apple has been fighting for in the United States during its high-profile lawsuit with Epnite Games, the makers of Fortnite.
Google is encouraged to offer smartphone users an Android operating system an alternative to its search engine, Google Maps app, or Chrome browser.
Apple will also be forced to loosen its grip on the iPhone, allowing users to remove the Safari web browser and other company-imposed apps that users cannot currently remove.
The law's goals include WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, iMessage, the App Store, Google Play, and many other services from big tech companies.
The EU wants to give consumers more choices when messaging. The new rules require technology to make their messaging services interoperable with smaller competitors.
However, Apple said it is "concerned that certain provisions of DMA create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users."
Meanwhile, Google said: "While we support many of DMA's efforts on consumer choice and interoperability, we are concerned that some of these rules could limit innovation and choice for Europeans."
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