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itopaloglu83today at 10:48 AM5 repliesview on HN

It’s a very thin and a political line between being a gatekeeper and a very successful company.

Are we soon going to say Spotify, ASML, and Carl Zeiss are also gatekeepers?


Replies

pjc50today at 12:16 PM

Do Zeiss provide digital services? If not, then how are they a digital markets act gatekeeper?

Americans may be used to political characterisation by arbitrary whim of the President, but the EU actually has a process. You can read the decisions: https://digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/gatekeepers-portal_...

Rules for gatekeepers: https://www.eu-digital-markets-act.com/Digital_Markets_Act_A...

> turnover equal to or above EUR 7,5 billion in each of the last three financial years, or where its average market capitalisation or its equivalent fair market value amounted to at least EUR 75 billion in the last financial year, and it provides the same core platform service in at least three Member States

> a core platform service that in the last financial year has at least 45 million monthly active end users established or located in the Union and at least 10 000 yearly active business users established in the Union

Explainer: https://www.grantthornton.ie/insights/factsheets/determining...

jraphtoday at 11:56 AM

For ASML and Carl Zeiss (which I didn't know about), it seems like a stretch from what I can read about them.

But for Spotify, why not?

> It’s a very thin and a political line between being a gatekeeper and a very successful company.

Of course.

If you are a tech company that becomes as successful as to be a monopoly or a participant in an oligopoly with a strong network effect, why wouldn't you be recognized as a gatekeeper?

show 1 reply
protimewastertoday at 1:19 PM

> It’s a very thin and a political line between being a gatekeeper and a very successful company.

Honestly, I'm fine with just placing extra requirements on very successful companies.

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baka367today at 11:03 AM

In the age of staple shenanigans from the US with tariffs and AI prohibition, I find this to be an adequate response.

3836293648today at 1:25 PM

Is that not the point? Exceptions for newcomers, strong customer protections against established players