A Win and a Loss for X: European Commission Decision on Gatekeeper Status
Today, the European Commission has confirmed that the platform formerly known as Twitter does not currently qualify as a “Gatekeeper” platform under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), which means that X won’t have to adhere to EU rules around access and collaboration, as part of anti-monopoly regulations.
Under the EU Digital Markets Act (DMA), platforms identified as gatekeepers must enable third party systems to inter-operate with their services, while also providing business users access to data and ad performance info for independent verification. The aim is to ensure fair competition in the market and prevent tech giants from dominating smaller players.
The EU Commission stated, “Today, the Commission found that the online social networking service of X should not be designated as a core platform service under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).” This decision follows an in-depth investigation that concluded X is not a crucial gateway for business users.
While X may have avoided the gatekeeper classification, its declining user base and ad business challenges suggest a loss in relevance in the EU market. In comparison, Meta and TikTok have met gatekeeper qualifications due to their strong performance in the region.
Supporters of X owner Elon Musk have praised the decision as a win for innovation and free speech, though it does not directly align with X’s mission to diversify content on the platform. The ruling shows that X is not a major player in the EU market and is falling behind the competition.