In digital markets, several substantial online platforms serve as gatekeepers. The goal of the Digital Markets Act is to guarantee that these platforms act fairly online. The Digital Markets Act is one of the cornerstones of the European digital strategy, along with the Digital Services Act.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) specifies a list of specific objective standards that must be met in order for a sizable online platform to be considered a gatekeeper. This enables the DMA to continue to be effectively focused on the issue with big, systemic internet platforms that it seeks to address.
These criteria will be met if a company:
- has a strong economic position, significant impact on the internal market, and is active in multiple EU countries
- has a strong intermediation position, meaning that it links a large user base to a large number of businesses
- has (or is about to have) an entrenched and durable position in the market, meaning that it is stable over time if the company met the two criteria above in each of the last three financial years
The DMA will take effect at the start of May 2023. Companies that offer core platform services must notify the Commission and provide all necessary information within two months. The Commission will then have two months to decide on a specific gatekeeper and adopt a ruling. After the Commission’s judgment, the designated gatekeepers will have up to six months to ensure adherence to the DMA’s duties.
The Commission will conduct market investigations to make sure the new gatekeeper regulations keep up with the quick speed of digital marketplaces: discover how on the European Commission Official Website!
