Digital Markets Act (DMA) Resources
Your learning destination for Digital Markets Act (DMA) resources.
From articles and ebooks to guides and checklists, you’re all set for a successful DMA compliance journey.
Your learning destination for Digital Markets Act (DMA) resources.
From articles and ebooks to guides and checklists, you’re all set for a successful DMA compliance journey.
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) is an important law that regulates the operations of digital platforms in...
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Learn more >Watch Usercentrics’ webinar on how the Digital Markets Act impacts online marketing and major advertising services.
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Under the DMA six large, influential tech companies have so far been designated “gatekeepers”. This means they have specific obligations under the law. However, many third-party companies rely on the gatekeepers’ platforms and services, e.g. for advertising, and will also have obligations to ensure compliance, like for data privacy and consent.
This list may grow or change in the future. Although the Digital Markets Act applies directly to these gatekeepers, many businesses work with and rely on their platforms and services. These third parties need to understand the law and its possible applications to their business, e.g. obtaining valid user consent. The gatekeepers will communicate and impose their own requirements of partners and customer companies to ensure Digital Markets Act compliance.
Overall, the DMA should help smaller players to grow and innovate in digital markets in the EU to compete with the big tech platforms, and prevent the gatekeepers from using their power and reach to control operations and growth of smaller organizations that rely on them.
The Digital Markets Act can also result in significant fines or other penalties for noncompliance, which could be a further financial burden for gatekeepers.
For smaller companies, noncompliance could result in loss of access to the gatekeepers platforms and services, which could cause serious financial problems, as it would deny access to users, data, and revenue streams like advertising.
However, over time the DMA should help foster innovation and bring growth to smaller companies operating in the EU as the business playing field is leveled and they take advantage of additional data, larger potential audiences and new opportunities.
Signally this consent can be done with existing tools, e.g. via Google Consent Mode for Google’s platforms. A consent management platform like Usercentrics CMP enables companies to obtain valid user consent for cookie and tracker usage, securely store the information, and signal it to gatekeepers. It also enables users to change their consent preferences in the future, and ensures that consent data is available to data protection authorities, who may perform compliance audits.
The DMA is designed to complement existing regulations like the GDPR, which are well established. The European Commission, which will enforce the Digital Markets Act, will be working closely with other regulatory bodies to ensure harmonization and coordination. These will include national competition and data protection authorities. Regular consultations and mechanisms to enable good cooperation will be set up for information exchange, alignment where enforcement actions are required, and to address any inconsistencies or overlaps among the Digital Markets Act and other regulatory frameworks.