European Union regulates Apple and Google duopoly as platform gatekeepers

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Big tech companies that can control access to application platforms have been curbed by the European Union.

The legislation by the European Parliament will likely affect mobile game platform owners.

Apple is going to lawsuit until the heat death of the universe, according to a lawyer at the law firm. A lower-court ruling in the US in favor of Apple in the case of antitrust violations by the company was a big deal. Apple won most of the rulings and lost on a small point in the case. Tim Sweeney is the CEO of Epic Games. A group of companies supported the company.

We asked the two companies for their thoughts.

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) have been adopted by the group.

Because of their size and entrenched positions in the market, Apple and other companies are likely to be classified asgatekeepers. It's not clear what other people are affected by the law.

Gatekeepers will have to follow the rules. They have to allow users to sideload directly from the internet if they want to install third-party apps. The lawsuit is against platform policies.

Third-party payment systems, as well as allowing developers to promote offers outside of the platforms of the gatekeepers, will be required.

Developers will need to be able to integrate their apps and digital services with those in the know. They need to be able to integrate with other services. Near-field communication, security tech and processors, and software for controlling those technologies will be available to developers.

How consumers benefit

Developers will be able to offer lower-cost services on their own websites if they can escape the platform fee. The profits could be used to improve their apps for consumers.

Some things were done to benefit consumers. Gatekeepers have to deal with the fact that consumers can uninstall any app. Users will be able to change the default voice assistant to a third party, share data and metrics with developers or platform competitors, and more. Marketing and advertising performance data is also included.

The EU law requires platforms to set up an independent compliance group. Gatekeepers won't be able to pre install software applications and require users to use default software. They can't favor their own products. They will have to tell the EU about any acquisitions.

Private data collected during a service can't be used for the purpose of another service. Unfair conditions can't be established for business users.

In the case of repeated violations, the fines can be as high as 20% of the total yearly revenues. There are other sanctions that could be taken.

There is talk of legislation in the U.S. that would restrict tech giants.

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