A gatekeeper is a large digital business with substantial influence over access to an important platform or market. Under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), companies such as Google, Meta, and Microsoft can receive this designation. section 10.30
The designation brings additional responsibilities, including:
- Obtaining user consent before sharing data across services. section 10.30
- Avoiding self-preferencing of the company’s own products and services. section 10.30
- Giving advertisers more information about how their advertisements perform. section 10.30
These rules affect data practices, search rankings, and product ordering on e-commerce platforms. Although the DMA and Digital Services Act (DSA) do not primarily regulate artificial intelligence, they can increase transparency and accountability around AI systems. Smaller companies face fewer obligations until their influence becomes substantial, preserving some room for innovation while extending oversight as their social impact grows. section 10.30
