MEPs approve bill targeting US tech giants

Reading Time: < 1 minute

EU lawmakers overwhelmingly adopted a position in favour of the Digital Markets Act on Wednesday, which would put constraints on “gatekeeper” tech companies such as US tech giants Amazon, Apple, Facebook, Google and Microsoft. MEPs voted 642 in favour and 8 against, with 46 abstentions.

Under the new rules big tech companies would no longer be able to buy out smaller ICT startups, thereby stimulating innovation. Consumers would also get more choice regarding applications on new devices, would would not default to “proprietary” big tech systems. The new regulations would also aim to prevent users being signed up for new services deceptively.

In the final stage required for adoption of the new regulations, the European Parliament and EU Council will negotiate the specifics of the Act early next year. The European Commission will reportedly assemble an 80-member team to monitor compliance and look into possible violations – although observers say this number may be insufficient for policing the law after it is adopted. US officials reacted to the news that these new rules could unfairly target American tech firms.

Source: Politico

CET Editor

Recent Posts

Bosnia’s EU accession requires pro-EU coalition – high representative

The EU can formally begin accession negotiations with Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) when a stable…

4 days ago

Estonia climbs to second in global press freedom rankings, Czechia makes top ten

Estonia has surged to second place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, its best-ever…

4 days ago

Czechia delinks from Russian oil after 60 years

Czechia has halted imports of Russian crude oil delivered via the Druzhba pipelinefor the first…

4 days ago

Far-right Simion wins first round of Romania’s presidential rerun, to face Bucharest mayor in runoff vote

Far-right leader George Simion surged to a clear lead in the first round of Romania’s…

4 days ago

Lowest OECD tax burdens in Slovakia, Poland

Workers in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) enjoy some of the lowest personal income tax…

4 days ago

Baltic states ramp up air, missile defences

The Baltic states are stepping up their air, missile and drone defence capabilities, as Estonia,…

2 weeks ago