Experts fear the Digital Markets Act won’t address tech monopolies
VergeMar 06
EU Investigating Google, Apple Under New Digital Markets Act
The Facts
The European Commission on Monday announced EU regulators will investigate Google, Meta, and Apple to ensure the companies are abiding by the EU's new Digital Markets Act (DMA), which took effect March 7.
Regulators will determine whether Google and Apple use their app stores to prevent competing developers from promoting their apps, and also probe Meta's new ad-free subscriptions and data-based advertising.
The Spin
Narrative A
The DMA seems like a noble pursuit, but it could wind up making things worse because of the market-manipulation loopholes these companies created in preparation for the law. For example, Apple has scrapped its 15-30% revenue fee on competing developers, replacing it with a 50-cent fee for apps with over a million downloads — leaving the competition better off sticking with the original fee.
Narrative B
Big Tech's legal loopholes don't negate the historic nature of the DMA. Europeans now have a clearer understanding of their app options, not to mention the new ability to prevent companies from tracking their data. As for loopholes like Apple's 50-cent rule, the commission will undoubtedly probe this move and strike it down if it's found to be in violation of the law.
Nerd narrative
There's an 80% chance that Apple will allow side-loading or other app stores on its iPhones in the European Union before Jan. 1, 2026, according to the Metaculus prediction community.