European Crackdown on Big Tech: From Digital Markets Act to Antitrust Probes

European regulators have significantly increased their scrutiny of Big Tech companies. Key actions include the Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act, targeting giants like Meta, Apple, and Google for antitrust and compliance breaches. Investigations, fines, and mandatory changes highlight the ongoing battle to ensure fair competition and safety in the digital landscape.

In recent years, European regulators have ramped up their investigations into Big Tech companies.

The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), effective since 2022, aims to curb Big Tech's dominance, demanding fair play for smaller firms. The EU competition watchdog charged Meta in July for failing to comply with the DMA's new pay-or-consent ad model.

Additionally, the European Commission has launched three probes into Apple and one into Google's potential breaches. In September 2023, the EU designated 22 'gatekeeper' services run by tech giants, mandating compliance within six months. Appeals from Meta and TikTok have seen mixed outcomes.

Under the EU's Digital Services Act (DSA), effective since last year, tech firms must tackle illegal and harmful content more aggressively. Facebook and Instagram face investigations over potential EU child safety breaches, risking hefty fines.

In antitrust moves, Apple agreed to open its mobile payment system to rivals following an EU probe, and Brussels fined Apple 1.84 billion euros in March for App Store restrictions. The EU has also charged Microsoft with illegally bundling its Teams app and is investigating its security software practices.

Individual European countries are also taking action. Britain's antitrust regulator found Google had abused its market dominance, while Italy fined Meta for unfair practices, and France fined Google for IP breaches. Spain is probing Apple's App Store for anti-competitive behavior.

(With inputs from agencies.)