EU Passes DMA and DSA

08 JULY 2022 - The EU’s DMA and DSA have passed, in theory. Apple Insider highlights a report from India’s Economic Times laying out the legislation.

The DMA (Digital Markets Act) is the one that would bar Apple from self-preferential treatment in searches. In other words, if someone searches the App Store for Music, Apple would be barred from listing Apple Music above Spotify or Deezer or whatever other music streamers are left. It would also require Apple to let users uninstall pre-installed apps, make certain functions (like iMessage) interoperable with similar, third-party apps, and - the big one - require open access to third-party app stores.

As for the other one, Apple Insider says the DSA (Digital Services Act):

…limits how companies can use any user data they collect for commercial activities and forces platforms to police user content to eliminate false information and hate speech…

Though passed through the EU’s governing body, the piece says the acts still have to be ratified by the 27 countries that make up the union. Assuming that happens, as most assume it will, both acts will go into effect around January 2024.