What does the WFD propose?
This legislation seeks to deal with “the negative consequences derived from the behavior of certain platforms that act as ‘gatekeepers’ in the market,” according to the document, and is aimed at Big Tech, since it considers that these companies “have the power to act as creators of private standards and acting as bottlenecks between companies and consumers”.
The measures, according to what was collected by European media, will apply only to the main service providers prone to unfair practices, including search engines, social networks or online intermediation services that can be considered access gatekeepers.
It will prohibit unfair practices such as preventing people from uninstalling programs or pre-installed apps; You will also proactively request that you take steps to allow third-party programs to function and interact with your services.
Another point is that they will be restricted from combining the personal data they acquire from users through the multiple services they offer and they will not be able to cross-reference information without their consent. Regarding minors, they will not allow companies to direct advertisements to this sector.
They also aim to restrict mergers “for a limited period” should companies breach proposals designed to prevent what the EU calls “killer takeovers,” where companies buy a rival before they become a threat to the economy. big company.
In the event that companies fail to comply with the measures, they may be subject to fines of up to 10% of their worldwide turnover, while in the case of recurring offenders, the legislation could force them to generate structural changes to guarantee compliance. of the law.