Il Digital Markets Act (DMA) is the European regulation that obliges large technology companies to act in an open, correct and transparent way.
The European Commission has designated it as gatekeeper only some companies and, in particular, some of their digital services. These are the entities for which the rigorous application of the rules contained in the DMA is expected.
Apple iMessage, Microsoft Edge and Bing, for example, have been removed from the list gatekeeper because, according to the Commission’s assessments, they would not have the requirements established by the legislation.
Apple has opened up to third-party stores and alternative payment methods but…
In January 2024, Apple established new rules that allow the app distribution outside the App Store as well as the possibility for developers to use alternative payment systems to that of Apple.
However, to enjoy these freedoms, the app must be certified by Apple, ei payments outside the App Store will be subject to a “fee for using Apple’s core technology” of 50 euro cents for each single download (starting from 1 million downloads). This is the alternative store tax recently invented at Apple headquarters.
The choices of Apple and Meta do not please the European Commission
A little, frankly, that was to be expected. Margrethe Vestager, European Commissioner for Competition, told Reuters that the Authority will express “dissatisfaction with the establishment of a fee for using the main technology” from Apple.
Vestager has currently shown herself to be more cautious, however, regarding the paid versions of Facebook and Instagram without advertising.
The privacy activist Max Schremsthrough noyb, had criticized Meta’s decision by underlining that the free use of social networks only with the sharing of personal data is unacceptable.
Recently the company founded by Mark Zuckerberg offered to lower the fee monthly requested from users with Schrems who replied that this is not the central point. In his opinion, a real one would not be sustainable privacy tax.
On this point, Vestager limited herself to declaring that it will be important to continue to dialogue with Meta even if in the end “I think that Meta will be forced to adapt to the DMA. We will soon evaluate the next steps to follow.”