IT News Correspondent
By Juliet Orbo
The European Union has fired a warning shot at some of the world’s biggest technology companies, demanding they provide clear answers on what they are doing to prevent online scams and fraudulent content within their platforms. The move underscores Brussels’ determination to enforce its flagship Digital Services Act (DSA), a sweeping law designed to make the internet safer and more accountable.
Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking in the Spotlight
On Tuesday, the European Commission issued official requests for information to Apple (App Store), Google (Play Store), Microsoft (Bing), and Booking.com. Regulators want detailed explanations of how these platforms are working to prevent scammers from exploiting their services.
Concerns range from fraudulent banking apps infiltrating app stores to links directing users to fake websites through search engines. Booking, too, faces scrutiny over reports of fraudulent listings and travel scams on its platform.
“This is an essential step to protect users across the EU from these practices and to make sure that platforms are playing their role,” said EU digital affairs spokesman Thomas Regnier in Brussels.
The Digital Services Act: Europe’s Online Rulebook
The DSA, which came into force in 2024, is the most ambitious online regulation in the world. It compels major digital platforms to take stronger measures against illegal content, disinformation, scams, and online harms, under the principle that “what is illegal offline should also be illegal online.”
Failure to comply can lead to multi-million-euro fines or, in extreme cases, bans from operating in the EU market. While Tuesday’s request does not mean any laws have been broken, it could escalate into a formal investigation if answers prove insufficient.
US Pushback and Trump’s Threats
The EU’s assertiveness has drawn sharp criticism across the Atlantic. US President Donald Trump has accused Brussels of targeting American tech giants unfairly and has threatened tariffs in retaliation. American tech leaders, including Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Elon Musk (X), have also blasted the DSA as a form of censorship.
The EU strongly rejects this narrative, arguing that the rules are applied equally, noting that Chinese platforms such as AliExpress are also under scrutiny.
Growing List of Investigations
This latest action follows multiple DSA probes already underway into Meta’s Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, and X (formerly Twitter). Brussels has faced criticism for delays, particularly in its case against Musk’s X, which was opened in late 2023 but has yet to be concluded.
EU digital chief Henna Virkkunen confirmed last week that several probes will wrap up “in the coming weeks and months” and hinted that new investigations could soon begin.
“The DSA is massive in scope,” Virkkunen explained. “We will probably start new ones because the responsibility of these platforms to keep users safe is non-negotiable.”
The Bigger Picture
For the EU, the crackdown is about setting global standards for how Big Tech operates, especially as scams and harmful content become increasingly sophisticated. For the companies under the microscope, it is another test of how far they are willing—and able—to adapt their business models to comply with stricter oversight.
If Brussels follows through with fines or penalties, this could mark one of the toughest regulatory enforcement waves against Silicon Valley yet, signaling a new era where unchecked digital dominance is no longer tolerated.
