ANALYSIS: Max EU Tech Fines Are a Big Stick For Big Changes

The European Union has signaled that it considers digital market competition overhauls as important as traditional cartel enforcement. The EU’s Competition Commission has always had the authority to fine a company that violates EU competition law up to 10% of overall annual turnover. Under the new Digital Markets Act and Digital Services Act proposed Dec. 15, hefty competition fines would start applying to an industry with a wide-ranging footprint — online technology platforms.

Companies designated as “gatekeepers” under the proposed Digital Markets Act would have a new set of affirmative duties and would have to refrain from a number of ...