Exclusive: Musk's X to dodge requirements of landmark EU tech rules, sources say

geneva_convenience@lemmy.ml to Technology@lemmy.ml – 66 points –
reuters.com

BRUSSELS, Oct 10 (Reuters) - Elon Musk's X will not be designated as a gatekeeper under landmark EU tech rules known as the Digital Markets Act which would have subjected it to an onerous list of obligations, people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Thursday.

The European Commission, which opened an investigation into online social media platform X in May, will announce its decision next week, the people said.

The EU competition enforcer declined to comment. X, formerly known as Twitter, had previously told the Commission that even though it met the criterion regarding the number of users to be classified as a gatekeeper, it does not qualify for the other criterion as an important gateway between businesses and consumers.

Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, Microsoft, TikTok owner ByteDance and Booking.com, have been designated as gatekeepers, among others.

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How does tiktok qualify but twitter doesn't?

Actually because Elon. Really.

The act requires a certain market position from a company. Which Twitter once definitely had - but does no longer have. A lot of companies have turned their back on Twitter due to Musk (not only advertising wise but especially communication wise). And that does reduce the impact it possibly can have on the market. (Remember: The DSA is a market equalisation act)

Because they usually comply with the laws, when they get "asked" to.

Ok then I hope all the business accounts, social media reps, uptime reports, customer service hotlines, and advertisers plan to stop using Twitter.

What about federal, provincial and municipal organizations?