The European Union (EU) reportedly aims to build a team comprised of 40 people to enforce the Digital Markets Act (DMA) rules aimed at Google, Meta, Amazon, Apple, Microsoft at other Big Tech firms.
The EU’s antitrust regulators also plan to add a chief technology officer dedicated to helping enforce the rules, Reuters reported Thursday (Oct. 27), citing an unnamed EU official.
The unit would work together with an existing unit of the Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology to enforce the DMA, according to the report.
Before such a unit could be set up, it would need approval from the college of commissioners from the 27 EU countries, the report stated.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act (DSA) — two pieces of landmark legislation that will set comprehensive standards for regulating the digital space — were approved by the EU Parliament July 5.
Read more: Big Tech May Not Feel Impact of EU’s New Online Rules Until 2024
The DMA sets obligations for large online platforms acting as “gatekeepers” (platforms whose dominant online position makes them hard for consumers to avoid) on the digital market to ensure a fairer business environment and more services for consumers.
The other piece of legislation passed on the same day by the EU, the DSA, sets obligations for digital service providers, such as Google, Meta or TikTok, to tackle the spread of illegal content, online disinformation and other societal risks.
Google commented on the passing of the DMA — which will require Google Play and other industry players to adjust their current operating model for users in the European Economic Area (EEA) — in a July 9 blog post.
Read more: Google Play Prepares for Digital Markets Act by Allowing Alternative Billing Systems
“We are committed to meeting these new requirements while ensuring that we can continue to keep people safe on our platforms and invest in Android and Play for the benefit of the entire ecosystem,” Google wrote at the time.
We’re always on the lookout for opportunities to partner with innovators and disruptors.
Learn More