Brussels, BELGIUM – The Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) takes note of the European Commission’s decisions and fines in the two investigations for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) announced today.
Today’s decisions, impacting Apple and Meta, mark the first sanctions under the DMA. Although the stated objective of the DMA is to foster competition in digital markets, CCIA Europe strongly criticises its enforcement for being opaque and discretionary – lacking both predictability and proportionality.
Since the DMA came into force, ‘gatekeeper’-designated companies first had to face months of unclear expectations and demands. They were repeatedly sent back to the drawing board by the Commission to make far-reaching changes to their services.
The following can be attributed to Senior Vice President and Head of CCIA Europe, Daniel Friedlaender:
“The DMA’s credibility is being weakened by its unpredictable enforcement and shifting demands, combined with sweeping product-design mandates from the European Commission that disrupt the user experience and limit EU businesses’ ability to reach consumers.”
“One case sees the Commission prescribing highly technical decisions on business strategy and product engineering, even down to how products are coded. The other decision risks raising advertising costs and creating new roadblocks for European brands and SMEs looking to connect with customers across the European Union.”
“The Commission is redesigning business models of online platforms, moving goalposts, and limiting innovation. The DMA has become highly politicised, and could even force some companies to provide services at a loss. There is a huge opportunity for regulatory simplification in Europe – so far, however, the DMA decisions are going in the opposite direction.”
