European Commission investigates DMA interoperability provisions
The EU study will consider extending interoperability to social networking services.
The European Commission intends to study interoperability provisions in the Digital Markets Act (DMA) through a new tender. This study, commissioned by the Directorate General for Communications Networks, Content, and Technology (DG CONNECT), aims to identify technical challenges and solutions for effective interoperability under the DMA, with a review expected by May 2026.
Under the DMA, gatekeepers must ensure their communication services, such as messaging apps, are interoperable with competitors’ platforms. However, this requirement is designed to protect competition by allowing users to switch between services more easily, addressing issues particularly noted with Apple’s App Store and Apple Pay. The commissioned study will evaluate the effectiveness of interoperability for number-independent messaging services like Facebook’s Messenger and WhatsApp, which do not require mobile number registration.
The evaluation will help determine whether these interoperability requirements should extend to online social networking services. The study will consider practical matters such as security, encryption, personal data collection, user interfaces, and content moderation. Companies like Apple have argued that interoperability could compromise privacy.
The tender for the study was published in the EU Official Journal of Tenders on 11 July. The company awarded the contract will play a crucial role in shaping the future of interoperability under the DMA.
About author
DW Team
The GIP Digital Watch Observatory team, consisting of over 30 digital policy experts from around the world, excels in the fields of research and analysis on digital policy issues. The team is backed by the creative prowess of Creative Lab Diplo and the technical expertise of the Diplo tech team.