Apple’s messaging service iMessage and Microsoft’s search engine Bing will not be subject to stricter EU regulations aimed at large digital companies. According to the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to limit the market power of major digital corporations, these services, along with Microsoft’s internet browser Edge and its advertising service, do not qualify as „gatekeepers“ with significant market influence in the EU. This decision was announced by the European Commission, acknowledging requests from Apple and Microsoft last year to exempt these services from the Digital Services Act.

Despite this exemption, Apple and Microsoft will face tighter regulations for their other services that are still classified as „gatekeepers“, including Apple’s App Store. The list also encompasses several Google services, the online retailer Amazon, and platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok, all of which will be subject to the DMA’s stringent measures to prevent market dominance and ensure fair competition in the digital sector.