Several companies involved in online streaming, like Deezer and Spotify, are urging the European Commission to tackle unfair practices by US Internet giants such as Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon (GAFA).
The letter was co-signed by ten Company CEOs from the sector and was sent out a few days before the single digital market strategy midterm review (see EUROPE 11779).
The co-signatories assert that some major Internet platforms “can abuse their privileged position”. They complain that these platforms are not just “bridges” towards their services through their app stores but are also increasingly operating as “controllers”. Without overtly naming them, they also specifically denounced the fact that Google and Apple prevent them from accessing key data from their apps and that the two US companies promote their own services more than those of their rivals at their app stores. They are therefore calling for specific rules to guide the interaction between these platforms and the professionals that use them.
On 10 May, the Commission will present its midterm review for the single digital market strategy. This will contain a section on unfair contractual clauses and trade practices between platforms and companies. According to the information we have received, it is also expected to announce legislative instruments in this review for this area, by the end of the year, on the basis of a detailed impact study. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)