Meta* Platforms, Twitter, Apple and Google-owner Alphabet operate “very large online platforms” under new EU law, so additional rules will apply to regulate their activities in the region. This was reported by the Reuters news agency, citing data from the European Commission.
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The Digital Services Act (DSA), which went into effect last year, defines online resources with more than 45 million monthly users as “very large online platforms.” Such sites are subject to additional regulatory rules, including an annual risk assessment of possible negative impact on users and an independent audit. They are also required to share data with authorities and regional research companies.
The European Commission has ordered the owners of large online platforms and search engines to publish data on the number of monthly active users. IT giants have four months to start complying with the new rules. In case of non-compliance with the established rules, after the expiration of the specified period, violators will be fined.
According to Twitter, 100.9 million people in Europe use the social network every month. Alphabet stated that users can access the services whether they use a Google account or not. 278.6 million authorized Europeans visit Google Maps every month, 274.6 million people visit the Play Store digital content store, 332 million people use the Google search engine, 74.9 million people use Google Shopping, and 401.7 million people watch YouTube. Apple has said that the iOS App Store alone can be considered a major platform, as more than 45 million people use the company’s digital content store every month. However, the company is ready to apply the same rules for versions of the App Store for iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and smart TVs. Meta* reported that Facebook* has 255 million monthly users and Instagram* has 250 million monthly users.
* Included in the list of public associations and religious organizations in respect of which the court made a final decision to liquidate or ban activities on the grounds provided for by Federal Law No. 114-FZ of July 25, 2002 “On countering extremist activity.”
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