LONDON (AP) — In a recent decision, the European Union's General Court ruled that TikTok, owned by ByteDance, falls under the jurisdiction of the bloc's Digital Markets Act, joining the ranks of tech giants like Apple, Google, and Microsoft. The court dismissed ByteDance's challenge against being classified as an online 'gatekeeper' subject to additional obligations under the new law.
The Digital Markets Act, which came into effect this year, aims to address the dominance of Big Tech companies and promote fair competition in the online space, ultimately providing consumers with more options. Despite TikTok's argument that it was a new competitor challenging established players like Facebook and Meta, the court noted the platform's rapid growth in user numbers since 2018 and its strengthened position in the social media landscape.
Expressing disappointment with the ruling, TikTok emphasized its role as a challenger platform that offers vital competition to existing players. The company stated that it would assess its next steps and highlighted its efforts to comply with the Digital Markets Act.
The Digital Markets Act, with its set of guidelines for tech 'gatekeeper' companies, went into effect in March, aiming to enhance user choice and enforce penalties for non-compliance. While the ruling can be appealed to the EU's Court of Justice, the highest court in the bloc, such an appeal can only be made on legal grounds.
