EU lawmakers provisionally agree on the DMA, which mandates messaging service interoperability, limits bundling services, prohibits self-preferencing, and more

The European Union today adopted landmark rules clamping down on anti-competitive abuses by the world's largest technology platforms …

Politico 2022-03-25 Samuel Stolton

Context & Ripple Effects

The provisional deal turns the EU’s earlier draft-DMA measures—including interoperability for messaging and social apps—into a broader gatekeeper rulebook. It matters because the agreed restrictions reach both communications services and the way large platforms connect, rank, and bundle their own products.

The scope of messaging obligations became a live boundary question in later coverage, when the EU was reported to be considering an iMessage exclusion based on business-user reach.

First-order effects

Gatekeeper platforms must prepare for messaging interoperability requirements and limits on bundling and self-preferencing under the DMA framework.
Messaging and social-app rivals gain a regulatory basis to challenge platform practices that previously reinforced closed service ecosystems.

Second-order effects

Large platforms’ product, distribution, and ranking decisions face more compliance scrutiny, making integrated-service advantages harder to preserve through defaults or preferential placement.
The iMessage coverage shows that enforcement will concentrate on which services meet the gatekeeper threshold, giving classification decisions outsized importance for messaging providers.

Third-order effects

If applied consistently, the DMA shifts European platform competition from case-by-case abuse findings toward ex ante rules governing interoperability and access.
Platform moats increasingly depend on service quality and user choice rather than the ability to keep communications networks and adjacent services closed.

The trend: European platform regulation is moving toward interoperability and conduct rules designed to constrain gatekeeper leverage before alleged harms become entrenched.

Discussion

@caseynewton Casey Newton on x
By 2023 iMessage and WhatsApp will have to be interoperable, because Europe said so. Wild new internet we're living on these days https://twitter.com/...
@vestager @vestager on x
We have a deal on #DMA! Last trilogue with @Europarl_EN and @EUCouncil ended with a good, strong agreement. Tune into our press conference tomorrow 8:45 😊 https://twitter.com/...
@vestager @vestager on x
Done #DMA! https://twitter.com/...
@senficon Felix Reda on x
Once again it looks like the press publishers' lobby may get their will in Brussels, because nobody has the guts to stand up to their nonsense. They're hijacking the #DMA to line their pockets under the guise of fairness obligations on big tech. https://www.euractiv.com/...
@bertuzluca Luca Bertuzzi on x
DMA FINAL agreement reached. FRAND extended to social media and search engines. Timeframe: 6 months for entry into force + 6 months for compliance. https://twitter.com/...
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
EU lawmakers have just agreed that services like WhatsApp and iMessage will have to open up and interoperate with smaller platforms 👀 it's part of The Digital Markets Act, that takes aim at tech giants like Apple, Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Amazon https://www.theverge.com/... h…
@histoftech Mar Hicks on x
Fascinating that we're in a moment in computing's history where this kind of interoperability must be legislated—and to know that many in the US will believe this attempt to improve communications infrastructure is an overreach on the part of foreign govts https://www.theverge.co…
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
All the noise Apple is going to make about iMessage interoperability being dangerous and bad and they should have just listened to Eddy Cue in 2013 https://www.theverge.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
Unexpected news from Europe's digital marketing act is that any company with a market cap of €75B+ will need to open up their IM networks. Could mean WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger or iMessage will have to interoperate with smaller messaging platforms😮 https://www.politico.eu/...
@nikitabier Nikita Bier on x
The irony of this anti-trust legislation: If iMessage becomes interoperable (particularly in the United States), Facebook would have its biggest competitive threat eliminated and have a clear path to recapturing the Close Friends social graph. https://twitter.com/...
@thierrybreton Thierry Breton on x
DMA. 3 letters — and a lot of work done for fair & open digital markets. And with tonight's agreement, soon a reality. Because no one should be “too big to care”. Because 🇪🇺 means digital rights. #DMA https://twitter.com/...
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
@MikeIsaac One of the reasons that the closed messaging products are such a better experience than SMS/MMS/RCS is that they aren't limited by incredibly slow standardization processes and you can upgrade without waiting for hundreds of counterparties.
@mikeisaac @mikeisaac on x
fascinated to understand how this happens. totally recasts the messaging wars Zuckerberg decided in 2018 that all three of his main messaging apps needed to interoperate and they are STILL working on it (much to the grousing of many folks inside) https://www.nytimes.com/... https…
@timothybucksf Timothy Buck on x
@MikeIsaac Forcing interoperability between unencrypted and end-to-end encrypted services is... going to have significant privacy consequences.
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
(Just a reminder that the entire open web has supported multi-client encryption for a long time)
@boring_cactus @boring_cactus on x
hmm i wonder if this means Google Messaging App Nobody Asked For № 12 and Google Messaging App Nobody Asked For № 13 are going to be compatible with each other https://twitter.com/...
@markscott82 Mark Scott on x
And there you have it. New #antitrust era begins (soon) https://twitter.com/...
@timothybucksf Timothy Buck on x
@reckless Apple building an Android app is not at all the same thing as forcing interoperability across the industry...
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
But either way this is a terrible process for implementing rules like this - stuffing a clause into a piece of primary legislation at the last minute without any debate. Technical regulatory questions should be decided by specialist regulators, just as in any other field.
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
That particularly sucks for Apple, which views Facebook's messaging apps as a threat to its iPhone lock-in. Great news for the metamates. https://twitter.com/...
@alecmuffett Alec Muffett on x
@CaseyNewton I deleted my previous tweet so that I can be more plain: this is a mind numbingly foolish, privacy-destroying, encryption-busting, innovation-killing proposal, dressed up in clothes of anti-monopoly. If you want federation go use a federated protocol. https://twitter…
@piratkolaja Marcel Kolaja on x
Some 7 hours later... The #DigitalMarketsAct has been negotiated! Interoperability of messaging services are now among obligations that the gatekeepers will need to comply with! Great news for fairer and contestable markets as well as for the users! https://twitter.com/... https:…
@neeva @neeva on x
⚡️The EU leading the way to rein in Big Tech and restore competition online. Defaults are competition killers, especially in search. The DMA's choice screen requirement is a BIG step to unlock market access. Time for the 🇺🇸 to do the same! https://techcrunch.com/...
@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
Facebook started working on making ITS OWN messaging apps interoperable like 4 years ago and is still working on it! Just one company! Imagine the whole industry agreeing on a standard and implementing it.
@mattnavarra Matt Navarra on x
EU adopts Digital Markets Act Social media companies hit with groundbreaking regulation in Europe https://www.politico.eu/...
@samuelstolton Samuel Stolton on x
Details: - Scope thresholds: annual turnover €7.5bn / market capitalisation €75 billion - Web browsers & virtual assistants in scope of CPS - targeted ads for minors moved to DSA -interoperability for messages - group chats staggered over 3 yrs - choice screens for CPS
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
(whispers: supporting encrypted RCS would meet all these requirements) https://www.theverge.com/...
@wcathcart Will Cathcart on x
Haven't seen the details of this yet, but I hope they are extremely thoughtful. Interoperability can have benefits, but if it's not done carefully this could cause a tragic weakening of security and privacy in Europe. https://twitter.com/...
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
@MikeIsaac Yeah, and also as many people have pointed out federating an end-to-end encrypted namespace across many providers is a very open engineering challenge. A cynic might say that this is a way to effectively outlaw E2EE while framing it as an antitrust move against tech.
@europe2022fr @europe2022fr on x
‼️DEAL‼ ️ Provisional agreement with the @Europarl_EN on the Digital Markets Act #DMA. An innovative and long-awaited text to ensure fair competition in digital markets. #EU2022FR ⤵️ https://twitter.com/...
@timothybucksf Timothy Buck on x
@reckless Hmmm interesting take! Do you think Apple was their main focus here and the other messaging services are collateral damage?
@nikitabier @nikitabier on x
For what it's worth, I think this is a positive development for competition - just hilarious that this was designed to hurt Facebook
@alecmuffett Alec Muffett on x
@CaseyNewton Apart from anything else it will also destroy anti-abuse mechanisms which are being built by profiling actions and reputations of users within a fixed ecosystem. This is a literal nightmare for privacy and safety of E2E-Encrypted messengers.
@cultexpert Steven Hassan, PhD on x
This is positive development. Wish American politicians weren't being influenced by lobbyists at the expense of of all Americans Freedom of Mind. https://www.nytimes.com/...
@tejaskumar_ @tejaskumar_ on x
This is why I love Europe. EU lawmakers make corporations do stuff usually for the good of the people, and corporations seem to have not (yet) taken over like in other parts of the world. https://twitter.com/...
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
The sound of 27 different Google product teams rushing to ship the Android messaging app that interop with iMessage #BlueBubbleGang https://twitter.com/...
@pierce David Pierce on x
This is an exciting idea! And i bet you $10 that the whole process of implementation and enforcement makes a lot of people wish it never happened https://twitter.com/...
@timsweeneyepic Tim Sweeney on x
Europe is completely in the right to reign in the platform monopolies and open markets to fair competition. Everyone will benefit even, ironically, the platform monopolies themselves. Here's Apple's nice TV app on Android being ruined by Google policies. https://twitter.com/...
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
This, to me, is the biggest deal in the EU digital markets bill and it's not even close: “Mandates to allow users to install apps from third-party platforms.” https://www.politico.eu/... https://twitter.com/...
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
@TimothyBuckSF Without a doubt
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
If any messaging app is obliged to accept any inbound messages from any other app, then how do you deal with spam or harassment? How do you block harassers?
@damienpetrilli Damien Petrilli on x
+ sideloading + alternative stores + can't force any payment system + NFC must be accessible + must be able to set all default apps Yup. Apple lost on all fronts. They aren't going to be happy. https://twitter.com/...
@suka_hiroaki Andreas Proschofsky on x
I still don't see this happening. Nobody, absolutely nobody in the industry wants that. Not even the smaller messengers (cause it would reduce their security). Will be interesting to see what the outcome here is. https://www.theverge.com/...
@tomwarren Tom Warren on x
The Digital Markets Act also means Apple will have to allow alternatives to its App Store to download iOS apps, and users of iOS and Android will be able to “freely choose their browser, their virtual assistant or their search engine.”
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
It's relatively straightforward to imagine how iMessage and WhatsApp could be interoperable, but more of a puzzle to work out what it would mean to send a Snap story to WhatsApp - what does the EU think should happen then? And who gets fined if it doesn't work?
@eric_seufert Eric Seufert on x
I wonder if the substance of the DMA would be different if any significant consumer tech platforms were domiciled in Europe.
@kantrowitz Alex Kantrowitz on x
Zuck to Europe: Thank you very much
@samuelstolton Samuel Stolton on x
“The Digital Markets Act puts an end to the ever-increasing dominance of Big Tech companies,” lead MEP @Andreas_Schwab said. “From now on, Big Tech companies must show that they also allow for fair competition on the internet.” #DMA https://www.politico.eu/...
@andreas_schwab @andreas_schwab on x
We managed to agree on a deal: painful in some areas. Very positive in anlogt of areas. All colleagues wanted to contribute for a better digital market.
@fooflington @fooflington on x
Wow, this is huge... a legal end to online walled gardens forcing interoperability between (similar?) services like WhatsApp and iMessage. I'm really pleased! https://twitter.com/...
@jesselehrich Jesse Lehrich on x
🚨 EU just finalized its sweeping overhaul of competition rules across the digital economy. Big Tech tried everything to block this landmark law & protect their unfair market abuses. they lost. https://twitter.com/...
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
In DMA discussion, whatever you do, 1) caution on the strong takes from US influencers who haven't been following this closely for last 16 months and 2) don't overlook implications on data use as the smart German decision vs Facebook influences data silos for gatekeepers. https:/…
@daveleeft Dave Lee on x
Yes, a lot of technical things to iron out here. DMA demands video calls be made cross-platform. That seems... troublesome. And the right to pick a voice assistant — to what extent? Buy an Apple Homepod but have it controlled by Alexa instead? https://twitter.com/...
@mikeisaac @mikeisaac on x
@alexstamos private vs public sector...but for messaging!
@rlove Robert Love on x
Ultimately, and unfortunately, most of this won't be good for the consumer https://www.theverge.com/...
@thibklnr Thibaut Kleiner on x
@DMA deal! Historic moment for digital regulation and a proof that EU democracy can work https://twitter.com/...
@gk3 George Kedenburg III on x
thoughts and prayers to the product designers who get stuck on this project https://twitter.com/...
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
In general doing the right thing a decade before a bunch of Europeans decide to make you do something you hate is a good way to avoid government regulation
@carnage4life @carnage4life on x
I'm confident that Apple will either ignore or delay implementation eating fines along the way but once they do will restrict interoperability to EU users. They have elevated proprietary lock-in to a fine art. https://twitter.com/...
@eupussycat @eupussycat on x
Agreement in #Trilogues on the #DMA. As @CIFE_EUstudies students know, there are still some bridges to be crossed (check our tracking chart). But this is a massive step forward for Europe as a regulator of foreign tech companies, to protect our values and our consumers. https://t…
@europe2022fr @europe2022fr on x
➡️The text will be finalized shortly and submitted to COREPER for approval, before being sent to Parliament for adoption by both legislators. #DMA #EU2022FR
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
@TimothyBuckSF They are forcing the interop because they want to lower the switching costs between platforms and iMessage lock-in is a huge switching cost. If Apple had reduced that cost on their own terms they might not be here now
@patrickmoorhead @patrickmoorhead on x
While the EU typically soaks US tech companies for tax dollars disguised as antitrust, this one makes sense. Hopeful this makes it to the US, selfishly, so I can dump my iPhone. $APPL https://twitter.com/...
@lewis_crofts Lewis Crofts on x
Sense of history, anyone? Europe agrees its new Big Tech-busting legislation today. #DMA It is 18 years to the day, exactly, since @EU_Commission sanctioned #Microsoft in its first ever massive tech #antitrust case. How things have changed.
@ashkan Ashkan Karbasfrooshan on x
indeed super positive for meta/fb & further makes apple ubiquitous https://twitter.com/...
@benedictevans Benedict Evans on x
You will, almost certainly, have to disable end to end encryption at the moment a message leaves one network and goes to another - how do you signal that to the user? Will the EU fine you for telling people that the EU has broken your privacy?
@wricciardi Walter Ricciardi on x
well done proud to be European @vestager https://twitter.com/...
@reckless Nilay Patel on x
@alexstamos @MikeIsaac Oh, I think the main reason is that tech companies make one set of things and phone companies make the other.
@sarthakgh @sarthakgh on x
Amazingly and unsurprisingly, this is bullish for Meta and we will see the inevitable stories about how interoperability is bad because of data-sharing Remember when FB tried to enable devs to get friends' friends' data?! https://twitter.com/...
@alexeheath Alex Heath on x
The biggest thing with this is that, especially with messaging/social products, tech companies will likely be forced to implement EU regulations globally. Also, how on earth do you do this in a privacy-safe way? https://twitter.com/...
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
@Carnage4Life Apple already has an out built in: SMS/MMS compatibility. Maybe they just turn Europe into all green bubbles and see what happens. Currently not an option for WhatsApp.
@daveleeft Dave Lee on x
In other words, this quote isn't just Nick Clegg Nick-Clegging. Iterating products could get extremely difficult*. (*I predict some kind of “compatibility mode” option that strips out just about everything, putting into question whether customers will feel any less locked in.) ht…
@alexstamos Alex Stamos on x
@Carnage4Life Unfortunately, this would mean a massive decrease in privacy for European users against both their local governments, well-resourced foreign governments like the US and RU (those embassy antennas aren't for show) and, in some locations, random dudes with the right F…
@jason_kint Jason Kint on x
Agreement on DMA (the gatekeeper law) was announced a few hours ago. I've been a bit reserved waiting for final final text but it looks like what I was pushing stuck. If so, it's a big, broad hit to Facebook and surveillance capitalism. ht @Andreas_Schwab https://techcrunch.com/.…

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