The Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) are two related EU laws. The DMA targets the biggest tech “gatekeepers,” like Google and Apple, forcing them to allow more competition, such as alternative app stores. The DSA focuses on how platforms handle illegal content, disinformation, and user data, with stricter rules for the largest ones. Together, they are among the EU’s most concrete tools for holding Big Tech accountable, not just regulating privacy but market power and platform responsibility too.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Digital Markets Act (DMA)?
The DMA is an EU law about competition. It targets the very largest tech companies, called "gatekeepers." These are companies that control key parts of the digital market, like app stores or search engines.
The DMA forces these gatekeepers to open up. For example, it can require them to allow other app stores on their phones. The goal is to give smaller competitors a real chance.
What is the Digital Services Act (DSA)?
The DSA is an EU law about online platforms. It sets rules for how platforms handle illegal content, like hate speech or counterfeit products. It also covers how platforms use people's data for ads and recommendations.
The largest platforms face the strictest rules. They must explain how their algorithms work. They must also let independent researchers study their systems in certain cases.
What's the difference between the DMA and the DSA?
The DMA is about competition and market power. It stops the biggest tech companies from blocking competitors unfairly.
The DSA is about content and platform behavior. It covers illegal content, disinformation, and how platforms handle user data. The two laws work together, but they target different problems.
Which companies count as "gatekeepers" under the DMA?
A gatekeeper is a company the European Commission has formally designated under the DMA. It must meet specific size and reach requirements, like a very large number of EU users.
Companies like Google, Apple, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft have been designated as gatekeepers for some of their services. The list can change over time, as the European Commission reviews new companies and services.