The DMA requires companies with over 45 million monthly active users and a market capitalization of 75 billion euros to ensure interoperability with competitors and allow users to choose which apps to pre-install on their devices. The details of Vestager’s discussion with Qualcomm's Cristiano Amon were not disclosed, but she emphasized the importance of chips in the EU’s digital transition and economic security. Vestager also defended the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act in a recent interview, arguing that it will provide “legal certainty” for tech startups building AI technology.
Key takeaways:
- Margrethe Vestager, the EU’s antitrust chief, has met with the CEOs of Apple, Alphabet, and Qualcomm to discuss regulation and compliance with competition policies in the European digital market.
- During her meeting with Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, they discussed the company's responsibility to allow the distribution of its apps beyond its proprietary App Store and ongoing competition cases.
- In her meeting with Sundar Pichai, the head of Alphabet and Google, the focus was on the design of choice screens, self-preferencing in relation to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), and the Google AdTech antitrust case.
- Vestager also defended the EU’s Artificial Intelligence Act in an interview with the Financial Times, arguing that the proposed act will provide “legal certainty” for tech startups building AI technology and will not hinder innovation and research.