Next month, the European Union will reveal if Apple and Meta have complied with the Digital Markets Act, according to competition chief Teresa Ribera. Despite tensions with the U.S. under President Trump, the EU remains firm on investigating American tech giants like Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, and X (formerly Twitter). Ribera emphasized the need to uphold European values and human rights amidst criticisms from the Trump administration about the EU’s regulations. The Digital Services and Markets Acts aim to prevent misuse of market power and ensure fair competition. Investigations into X are based on rule violations, not ownership.
In the upcoming month, the European Union will reveal if Apple and Meta have complied with the regulations of the Digital Markets Act. This information was confirmed by Teresa Ribera, the competition chief for the bloc, during an interview with Reuters.
She emphasized that the Union will remain steadfast in its decision to investigate the American companies, despite the complicated dynamics with the United States resulting from the administration of President Donald Trump.
Teresa Ribera Rodriguez, Vice-President of the European Commission for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition and Commissioner for Competitiveness
The 27-member bloc has enacted the Digital Services Act and the Digital Markets Act to safeguard its citizens from tech companies exploiting their market dominance, with several primarily American corporations—like Meta, Alphabet, Amazon, and X (formerly known as Twitter)—being under scrutiny by the European Commission.
Ribera asserted that the EU must adhere to its “strengths and principles” and cannot compromise on human rights, European unity, democracy, and values. In response, the United States and the Trump Administration criticized the EU for having “too many rules,” with the 47th president himself characterizing these regulations as a form of “taxation” on companies.
Teresa Ribera holds the authority to approve or reject multi-billion euro mergers and impose significant penalties on companies attempting to strengthen their market position by undermining smaller competitors. Apple has already been compelled to permit third-party app stores for iOS, while Meta has faced pressure to prioritize Marketplace on Facebook over fair competition with other classified ad platforms.
The social media platform X is also under investigation. While it is owned by Elon Musk, a close advisor to Trump at present, the Commissioner clarified that the focus is not on the ownership of the company but rather on its potential violations of the EU’s rules against illegal content.
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