The EU’s proposed Digital Markets Act aims to level the playing field for apps in the EU. What does this mean? The ability to uninstall bundled apps from big tech that are native to your devices.
On its face, this sounds OK. If you want to uninstall Safari or Mail on your iPhone, no one should care. However, these rules go further, requiring the sharing of all data (for free) with third parties, as well as more “level the playing field” ideas from some clearly non-technical legislators.
The EU’s competition chief, Margrethe Vestager, said the goal is “to make sure that we, as users, have access to a wide choice of safe products and services online. And that businesses operating in Europe can freely and fairly compete online just as they do offline.”
Nothing I’ve read so far makes me think that this regulation is going to have the desired effect. In practice, I think the EU is going to create an uncontrollable mess. We’ll see.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.
About Shelly Palmer
Shelly Palmer is the Professor of Advanced Media in Residence at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and CEO of The Palmer Group, a consulting practice that helps Fortune 500 companies with AI strategy, implementation and governance, as well as technology, media and marketing. Named one of LinkedIn’s Top Voices in Technology, he is a bestselling author, covers tech and business for Fox 5’s Good Day New York, is a regular commentator on CNN, and writes the popular daily business blog Think About This. Follow @shellypalmer or visit shellypalmer.com.