The European Commission has recently concluded an investigation into the services provided by major tech companies such as Microsoft and Apple. Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) of the European Union, certain companies can be designated as “gatekeepers” if they meet specific criteria.
After careful evaluation, the European Commission has determined that Apple’s iMessage service, Microsoft’s Bing search engine, and Edge web browser do not qualify as gatekeepers. However, the Commission has classified Apple’s App Store, iOS operating system, and Safari browser, as well as Microsoft’s LinkedIn and Windows operating system, as gatekeepers.
The DMA, which will come into effect in three weeks, aims to promote fair competition, protect consumer rights, and foster innovation in the digital space. It requires tech giants like Microsoft, Apple, Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and ByteDance to allow third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and make it easier for users to switch to competitors.
The market investigations were initiated following a notification by Apple and Microsoft, in which they identified their core platform services. The services that were under scrutiny included Apple’s iMessage, Microsoft’s Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising. Both companies presented arguments contesting the designation of these services as gatekeepers.
The European Commission thoroughly assessed these arguments, sought input from relevant stakeholders, and considered recommendations provided by the Digital Markets Advisory Committee. As a result, iMessage, Bing, Edge, and Microsoft Advertising were not classified as gatekeeper services.
However, the Commission will continue to monitor the market developments concerning these services for any significant changes. It’s important to note that the decisions made by the Commission do not affect the previous designation of Apple and Microsoft as gatekeepers on September 5, 2023.
In conclusion, the European Commission’s investigation under the Digital Markets Act has identified the gatekeepers in the digital market. This will have implications for the operations of Apple and Microsoft, as they will be subject to specific regulations aimed at promoting fair competition and consumer protection.
欧洲委员会最近对微软和苹果等主要科技公司提供的服务进行了调查。根据欧盟数字市场法案（DMA），只有符合特定标准的公司才能被指定为“门户”。经过细致评估，欧洲委员会确定了苹果的iMessage服务、微软的Bing搜索引擎和Edge浏览器不符合门户的资格。然而，委员会将苹果的应用商店、iOS操作系统和Safari浏览器，以及微软的LinkedIn和Windows操作系统，列为门户。
DMA将在三周后生效，旨在促进公平竞争、保护消费者权益和促进数字领域创新。该法案要求微软、苹果、谷歌、亚马逊、大型平台和字节跳动等科技巨头允许第三方应用或应用商店在其平台上运行，并使用户更容易转移到竞争对手平台。
在苹果和微软提出核心平台服务的通知后，市场调查启动了。受审查的服务包括苹果的iMessage、微软的Bing、Edge和Microsoft Advertising。两家公司提出了争议这些服务被指定为门户的论据。
欧洲委员会对这些论点进行了全面评估，征求了相关利益相关者的意见，并考虑了数字市场咨询委员会提供的建议。结果，iMessage、Bing、Edge和Microsoft Advertising都没有被列为门户服务。
然而，委员会将继续监测涉及这些服务的市场动态，以了解是否有重大变化。需要注意的是，委员会作出的决定不会影响苹果和微软在2023年9月5日被指定为门户的先前决定。
总之，欧洲委员会根据数字市场法案的调查确定了数字市场中的门户。这将对苹果和微软的运营产生影响，因为它们将受到旨在促进公平竞争和保护消费者的特定规定的约束。
Key Terms:
1. Digital Markets Act (DMA) – 欧盟数字市场法案
2. Gatekeepers – 门户
3. App Store – 应用商店
4. iOS operating system – iOS操作系统
5. Safari browser – Safari浏览器
6. LinkedIn – 领英
7. Windows operating system – Windows操作系统
Related Links:
1. European Commission – Digital Finance
2. European Commission Official Website