In a swift move to enforce the newly implemented Digital Markets Act (D.M.A.), EU officials have initiated investigations targeting major tech companies to mitigate the dominance of large ‘gatekeeper’ platforms in the online sphere.

Today, the EU Commission announced inquiries into alleged non-compliance by industry giants Google, Apple, and Meta (formerly Facebook). These investigations target Google’s preferential treatment of the Google Play Store in its search results, Apple’s steering rules within the App Store, and Meta’s controversial ad-free subscription plan.

The scrutiny surrounding app store tactics has been ongoing due to concerns about the competitive advantage bestowed upon store owners. However, debates over these practices often fall short in addressing potential infringements on fair business practices.

Meanwhile, Meta’s ad-free subscription service, which allows users to opt out of data tracking and ads for a monthly fee, has drawn criticism from privacy advocates. Last week, Meta announced a price reduction for the package in an attempt to garner wider support.

In addition to these cases, the EU Commission is also investigating Apple’s revised fee structure for alternative app stores and Amazon’s marketplace ranking practices.