The Digital Markets Act (DMA) comes into force, and large digital companies must comply with a series of measures against anti-competitive practices in order to better protect European users. Here’s everything that changes!
The fateful date for the entry into force of the Digital Market Act (DMA) has finally arrived, forcing digital giants to submit to a certain number of obligations. As a reminder, this new legislation aims to better regulate digital companies, in particular GAFAM, and their activities in the European Union, in order to prevent abuses due to their dominant position. Thus, the DMA must make it possible to fight against anti-competitive practices, to prevent these companies from favoring their own services to the detriment of those of other market players, to encourage innovation and to better protect users and consumers ( see our article). Thus, the six major access controllers – Alphabet (Google), Amazon, Apple, ByteDance (TikTok), Meta (Facebook) and Microsoft – including four social networks (TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn) and three operating system (Android, iOS, Windows), had to take steps to comply with the legislation – even if some were very reluctant. Here’s a summary of everything that’s changing for you.
DMA: WhatsApp and Messenger become interoperable
If iMessage, Apple’s instant messaging on iOS, is not affected, WhatsApp and Messenger, which both belong to Meta, must make their basic functions interoperable – therefore compatible – with their more modest competitors. For example, WhatsApp users will need to be able to transfer their conversation history and contact list to Telegram or Signal. The app is also preparing for this revolution by welcoming a new section dedicated to “external” conversations (see our article).
DMA: a ton of changes on iOS
To comply with European legislation, Apple had to work on many points. For this, the company has just published iOS 17.4 (see our article). One of the major changes implemented by the Cupertino company is that it finally allows other application stores on iOS – as is the case on Android. The end of the App Store monopoly results in another consequence. Publishers present in the firm’s online store can now refuse the 30% commission recovered by Apple on sales and use their own payment system to be paid directly. The Epic Game Store and Setapp are expected soon. Thanks to this change in stores, cloud gaming applications are now also offered on the App Store.
It’s also the end of the Apple Pay monopoly! You will now be able to pay for your purchases directly with your device using contactless technology, without necessarily going through the Apple company’s payment service. As for web browsers, when configuring the device, other browsers are now offered: Safari is no longer the only one. No less than eleven other browsers are available to replace it if you wish. It is possible to change it at any time from the iOS settings.
DMA: You can uninstall Microsoft apps in Windows
Thanks to the latest Windows 10 and 11 updates, you can now completely remove Microsoft applications installed by default from your PC. Because if some are essential components for the proper functioning of the system, others are on the other hand frankly dispensable and shunned in favor of much more efficient alternative applications. This is the case for Edge, the in-house Windows browser, the Cortana assistant, the Photos image viewer and even the Pense-bêtes note-taking tool (see our article). On the other hand, we still do not have access to Copilot, Microsoft’s AI companion still being inaccessible in Europe…
DMA: Facebook, Instagram and Messenger accounts can be dissociated
You can now choose to unlink data shared between Facebook and Instagram. So, you can have two separate accounts to log in on both platforms. To do this, Meta asks you directly whether or not you wish to share information between the group’s services (see our article). It is therefore still possible to continue connecting the two accounts. Likewise, it is no longer necessary to have a Facebook account to use Messenger. Real progress!
DMA: changes to the search engine on Android
Google had to bring a number of its services – namely its search engine, Google Maps, its Chrome browser, Google Shopping, the Play Store, YouTube and its advertising service – into compliance. So, you will now have more choice on Android, Chrome and in search results. On all Android devices sold from March 6, you will be able to choose your default web browser and search engine, rather than being forced to use Chrome and Google.
In terms of Internet search, Google results will leave more room for competition, in particular by limiting the promotion of Google Maps. Previously, when you searched for an address or a specific location, Google would put a link to access a route on Google Maps. From now on, you will have to deal with a static map when looking for an address (see our article). Same thing for YouTube, Google Flights or even Google Shopping. This does not mean that these sites disappear from search results, they simply no longer have an advantage over others.
More generally, regarding the Google account, you must now specify that you want to connect the different services of the group together in your account settings – which was the case by default before. Also, for several weeks, a consent banner similar to that for depositing cookies has appeared to ask you if you give your consent. Please note that if you choose not to link the services, certain functions may be limited or unavailable. You can change these settings at any time. This change also means that it is possible to create a separate account depending on the service: an account for YouTube and another for Gmail for example.
If they do not respect the prerogatives of the DMA, companies will be exposed to heavy and dissuasive sanctions amounting to tens of billions of euros, without taking into account that the European Commission may “impose behavioral or structural corrective measures”, such as prohibiting them from buying other companies over a given period or forcing them to sell an activity (sale of units, assets, intellectual property rights or brands). This time, for sure, we’re not laughing anymore!