EU Commission Requests Information from US Tech Giants on Fraud Prevention Measures

The European Commission has officially requested information from major US tech companies, including Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking.com, regarding their efforts to protect users from financial fraud on their platforms. This request comes as part of the Commission's enforcement of the Digital Services Act (DSA), which mandates that large online platforms adhere to stricter regulations concerning user safety.

A spokesperson for the Commission emphasized that this initiative is a significant step toward enhancing user protection across the European Union. The Commission's inquiry requires these companies to detail the measures they have implemented to prevent users from falling victim to fraudulent offers that could lead to financial losses.

For Apple and Google, the focus is likely to be on their respective app distribution platforms, the App Store and Google Play. Microsoft operates a sales platform through its Bing search engine, while Booking.com, headquartered in the Netherlands, is also under scrutiny as part of this regulatory effort.

While the Commission has not disclosed a specific deadline for the companies to submit their information, it typically allows a few weeks for compliance. Following the assessment of their responses, the Commission will decide on subsequent steps. If the companies fail to provide accurate, complete, or truthful information, or if they refuse to answer the inquiries, they may face substantial fines.

Further actions could include initiating formal proceedings against the companies, at which point more detailed information about the process would be made public.

The Digital Services Act aims to ensure that online platforms remove illegal content more swiftly than before and that users can report such content easily. The regulations stipulate that larger platforms are subject to more stringent requirements compared to smaller ones.

One of the key provisions of the DSA is that online platforms must know and track the identities of their sellers. This includes the obligation to verify and maintain records that can be provided to affected parties in the event of fraud.

Historically, the DSA has led to tensions between the European Union and the United States, with past US administrations criticizing European digital laws as being detrimental to competition.