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Europe eyeing limits on how big tech can use data and bundle apps reports

European lawmakers are considering new rules for Internet giants that could include forcing them to share data with smaller rivals and/or put narrow limits on how they can use data in a bid to level the digital playing field.

The FT and Reuters both report seeing drafts of the forthcoming Digital Services Act which EU lawmakers are expected to introduce before the end of the year.

Their reports suggest there could be major restrictions on key digital infrastructure such as Apples iOS App Store and the Android Google Play store, as well as potentially limits on how ecommerce behemoth Amazon could use the data of merchants selling on its platform something the Commission is already investigating.

A Commission spokesperson declined to confirm or deny anything in the two reports, saying it does not comment on leaks or comments by others.

Per the Financial Times, the leaked draft states: Gatekeepers shall not use data received from business users for advertising services for any other purpose other than advertising service.

Its report suggests tech giants will be shocked by the scale of regulations coming down the pipe noting 30 paragraphs of prohibitions or obligations with the caveat that the proposal remains at an early stage, meaning big tech lobbyists still have everything to play for.

On bundling, lawmakers are eyeing rules that would mean dominant platforms must let users uninstall any pre-loaded apps as well as looking at barring them from harming rivals by giving preferential treatment to their own services, according to the reports.

The Commissions experience of antitrust complaints against Google seems likely to be a factor informing these elements given a string of EU enforcements against the likes of Google Shopping and Android in recent years have generated headlines but failed to move the competitive needle nor satisfy complainants, even as fresh complaints about Google keep coming.

Per Reuters the draft rules would also subject gatekeeper platforms to annual audits of their advertising metrics and reporting practices.

In June it also suggested its eyeing binding transparency requirements related to online hate speech, saying platforms own reporting is still too patchy.

Original article
Author: Natasha Lomas

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Natasha Lomas has recently written 11 articles on similar topics including :
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  2. "Google has made its pitch to shape the next decades of digital regulation across the European Union, submitting a 135-page response yesterday to the consultation on the forthcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) which will update the blocs long-standing rules around e-commerce". (September 4, 2020)
  3. "Google has made its pitch to shape the next decades of digital regulation across the European Union, submitting a 135-page response yesterday to the consultation on the forthcoming Digital Services Act (DSA) which will update the blocs long-standing rules around ecommerce". (September 4, 2020)
  4. "The Bundeskartellamt, Germanys very active competition authority, isnt letting the grass grow under new powers it gained this year to tackle Big Tech: The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) has just announced a third proceeding against Google". (June 4, 2021)
  5. "While a French online hate speech law has just been derailed by the countrys top constitutional authority on freedom of expression grounds, Germany is beefing up hate speech rules passing a provision that will require platforms to send suspected criminal content directly to the Feder". (June 19, 2020)
  6. "Brave, a maker of a pro-privacy browser, has lodged complaints with the European Commission against 27 EU Member States for under resourcing their national data protection watchdogs". (April 27, 2020)
  7. "A flagship framework for gathering Internet users consent for targeting with behavioral ads which is designed by ad industry body, the IAB Europe fails to meet the required legal standards of data protection, according to findings by its EU data supervisor". (October 16, 2020)
  8. "Facebooks head of global policy has denied the tech giant could close its service to Europeans if local regulators order it to suspend data transfers to the US following a landmark Court of Justice ruling in July that has cemented the schism between US surveillance laws and EU privacy rights". (September 23, 2020)
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  10. "Google has offered a second round of concessions to try to persuade European regulators to clear its acquisition of wearables maker Fitbit . The deal has been stalled by concerns over its impact on consumer privacy and competition in the wearables market". (September 29, 2020)
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