X is not a web giant under DMA digital marketplace regulation

Brussels – X, the well-known online social networking service owned by Elon Musk, “should not be designated as a gatekeeper” under the Digital Market Act (DMA), the regulation intended to prevent abuse of a dominant position of web giants in the European single market. The European Commission, after the appropriate checks and evaluations, concludes that the value of the social network is less economical than one might have thought. X “s not an important gateway for business users to reach end users.” For this reason, it should be excluded from the strict European rules that can also impose penalties of up to 10 percent of global business turnover. 

The decision made in Brussels, in essence, marks a victory for Elon Musk’s staff, who responded to the findings made by the EU executive with the investigation launched on May 13, when, instead. the online booking site Booking had been declared a web giant and, therefore, included in the list of large operators on which to operate the clampdown.

Thus, X’s defense strategy is affirmed, as confirmed by the European Commission, which concluded that the popular short message service “does indeed not qualify as a gatekeeper in relation to its online social networking service.” However, the EU executive warned that it “will continue to monitor” the developments on the market regarding this service, should any substantial changes arise, implying the possibility of triggering EU rules subsequently.

X is not like the others, i.e., it is not like Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, Microsoft, Booking, and Ticktok, already included in the EU’s list of large operators digital so the European DMA will impose new rules and market behavior. Musk is safe for now.