EU Opens DSA Probe Into Apple, Google, Microsoft

The European Union is intensifying its regulatory scrutiny of major U.S. technology companies, with EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen confirming that Apple, Google, and Microsoft have been formally asked to detail their efforts in combating financial scams on their platforms.

The inquiry, which also includes Booking.com, is being conducted under the Digital Services Act (DSA), a landmark EU law that requires Big Tech to do more to tackle illegal and harmful content. Virkkunen stated that online fraud, which includes everything from fake hotel listings to fraudulent banking apps, costs Europeans more than 4 billion euros annually.

The EU's concerns are heightened by the rise of artificial intelligence, which regulators believe is making scams more sophisticated and difficult for consumers to spot. The request for information specifically targets how the companies identify and manage these risks.

The investigation will scrutinize Apple and Google's app stores for their processes to prevent fake banking and investment applications. For Google and Microsoft, regulators are focusing on their search engines, and how they prevent links and ads from leading users to fraudulent websites.

This move is part of the EU's broader effort to enforce the DSA and is the latest in a series of investigations targeting major platforms, including Meta, TikTok, and X. Companies found to be in violation of the DSA could face fines of up to 6% of their global annual revenue.