Digital Markets Act

EU lawmakers signed a regulation on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector, otherwise referred to as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), in September 2022. The DMA was published in the Official Journal of the European Union on 12 October 2022 and entered into force on 1 November 2022. The new legislation lays down harmonised rules aimed at regulating the behaviour of digital platforms acting as gatekeepers between business users and their customers in the European Union (EU). This approach entails a shift from ex-post anti-trust intervention to ex ante regulation, and enshrines a set of ex-ante rules within EU law that will radically change how large digital platforms are allowed to operate in the EU. The European Commission is expected to undertake the designation of gatekeeper platforms in mid 2023. Compliance enforcement will begin around mid 2024, with gatekeepers having to adhere to a range of obligations and prohibitions. Third edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.