Apple Inc. and Microsoft have raised objections to the EU’s Digital Market Act, arguing that some of their services should not be categorized as “gatekeepers” due to their perceived lack of popularity. The Digital Market Act is a new regulatory framework aimed at curbing the influence of Big Tech companies.
According to a report by Reuters on Monday, both tech giants have entered into battles over specific services as they await the publication of the initial list of services to be subject to regulation under the act, scheduled for release on Wednesday.
Apple is contending that its iMessage chat application should not be classified as a “gatekeeper” service under the Digital Market Act. The company contends that iMessage does not wield the level of dominance that would warrant such classification.
Microsoft, on the other hand, is disputing the inclusion of its search engine, Bing, in the list of “gatekeeper” services. The tech giant asserts that Bing does not hold a commanding position in the market and should be exempt from the regulatory provisions aimed at gatekeeper platforms.
The outcome of these challenges will have significant implications for how the EU’s Digital Market Act will be implemented and how it will affect the operations of these tech companies in Europe. As the first list of regulated services is set to be unveiled, the tech industry and regulators alike are closely monitoring the developments surrounding this landmark legislation.