Europe's Digital Act Forces Tech Companies to Change
2024-03-10
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1Europeans can now choose what online services, including browsers and search engines, to use for their mobile phones and computers.
2They can also choose where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used.
3They are part of changes required under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
4The DMA is a set of European Union laws that six large technology companies had to start following recently.
5Those companies include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta, and TikTok owner ByteDance.
6The DMA is the latest in a series of laws that Europe has passed as a world leader in controlling large tech companies.
7The companies have followed by changing long-held ways of doing business.
8For example, Apple will permit people to download smartphone apps outside of its App Store.
9Here's a look at how the Digital Markets Act will work:
10Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media companies, fall under the DMA.
11They include Google services like Maps, YouTube, the Chrome browser and the Android operating system.
12Others are the online store Amazon's Marketplace and Apple's Safari browser and operating system iOS.
13Meta's social media and messaging sites Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are included as well as Microsoft's operating system Windows and social media site LinkedIn.
14The companies face the threat of large fines of up to 20 percent of their yearly worldwide income for repeated violations.
15That could amount to billions of dollars. And they also face the threat of a breakup for major violations.
16Zach Meyers is an assistant director at the Center for European Reform, a research organization.
17He said, "If it works, many Western countries will probably try to follow the DMA..."
18Already, countries like Japan, Britain, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and India are writing their own versions of DMA-like rules.
19The aim is to prevent tech companies from having too much control over online markets.
20In one of the biggest changes, Apple has said it will let European iPhone users download apps outside its App Store, which comes with its devices.
21Apple has long opposed such a move.
22A large part of its income comes from the 30 percent charge it demands for payments made through iOS apps.
23Apple has warned that downloading apps outside of its store will come with added security risks.
24Now, Apple is cutting those charges for developers in Europe that choose to stay with its payment-processing system.
25But Apple is adding a 55-cent fee for each iOS app downloaded through outside app stores.
26Critics say that will persuade existing free apps to not use outside stores.
27Avery Gardiner is a director at the music company Spotify.
28She said those outside app stores will never grow because they will be missing many apps that would need to be there for people to want to use those stores.
29Users of mobile devices will have more choices online.
30They will not be forced to use certain services like Apple's Safari browser or Google search engine.
31Android users can choose which search engine to use, and iPhone users will get to choose which browser will be their main one.
32Microsoft, meanwhile, will stop forcing people to use its Edge browser.
33Some Google search results will show up differently because the DMA bans companies from giving preference to their own services.
34So, for example, searches for hotels will now show a list of booking sites like Expedia.
35Users can also stop companies from using their online data to target them with advertising.
36The DMA also requires messaging systems to be able to work with each other.
37Meta owns two messaging apps that fall under the rules.
38So it is expected to come up with a proposal on how Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp users can send messages, videos, and images to each other.
39I'm Gregory Stachel.
1Europeans can now choose what online services, including browsers and search engines, to use for their mobile phones and computers. They can also choose where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used. 2They are part of changes required under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA is a set of European Union laws that six large technology companies had to start following recently. Those companies include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta, and TikTok owner ByteDance. 3The DMA is the latest in a series of laws that Europe has passed as a world leader in controlling large tech companies. The companies have followed by changing long-held ways of doing business. For example, Apple will permit people to download smartphone apps outside of its App Store. 4Here's a look at how the Digital Markets Act will work: 5What companies have to follow the rules? 6Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media companies, fall under the DMA. 7They include Google services like Maps, YouTube, the Chrome browser and the Android operating system. Others are the online store Amazon's Marketplace and Apple's Safari browser and operating system iOS. 8Meta's social media and messaging sites Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are included as well as Microsoft's operating system Windows and social media site LinkedIn. 9The companies face the threat of large fines of up to 20 percent of their yearly worldwide income for repeated violations. That could amount to billions of dollars. And they also face the threat of a breakup for major violations. 10What effect will the rules have around the world? 11Zach Meyers is an assistant director at the Center for European Reform, a research organization. He said, "If it works, many Western countries will probably try to follow the DMA..." 12Already, countries like Japan, Britain, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and India are writing their own versions of DMA-like rules. The aim is to prevent tech companies from having too much control over online markets. 13How will downloading apps change? 14In one of the biggest changes, Apple has said it will let European iPhone users download apps outside its App Store, which comes with its devices. 15Apple has long opposed such a move. A large part of its income comes from the 30 percent charge it demands for payments made through iOS apps. Apple has warned that downloading apps outside of its store will come with added security risks. 16Now, Apple is cutting those charges for developers in Europe that choose to stay with its payment-processing system. But Apple is adding a 55-cent fee for each iOS app downloaded through outside app stores. Critics say that will persuade existing free apps to not use outside stores. 17Avery Gardiner is a director at the music company Spotify. She said those outside app stores will never grow because they will be missing many apps that would need to be there for people to want to use those stores. 18How will people get more choices online? 19Users of mobile devices will have more choices online. 20They will not be forced to use certain services like Apple's Safari browser or Google search engine. Android users can choose which search engine to use, and iPhone users will get to choose which browser will be their main one. Microsoft, meanwhile, will stop forcing people to use its Edge browser. 21Some Google search results will show up differently because the DMA bans companies from giving preference to their own services. So, for example, searches for hotels will now show a list of booking sites like Expedia. 22Users can also stop companies from using their online data to target them with advertising. 23The DMA also requires messaging systems to be able to work with each other. 24Meta owns two messaging apps that fall under the rules. So it is expected to come up with a proposal on how Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp users can send messages, videos, and images to each other. 25I'm Gregory Stachel. 26Kelvin Chan reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. 27________________________________________________ 28Words in This Story 29app - n. a piece of software that you can download to a device such as a smartphone or tablet, for example to look up information or to play a game 30browser - n. a computer program that lets you look at or read documents on the World Wide Web 31preference - n. a greater interest in or desire for somebody/something than somebody/something else 32booking - n. an arrangement to have something (such as a room) held for your use at a later time