VOA科学技术2024--Europe’s Digital Act Forces Tech Companies to Change

Europe’s Digital Act Forces Tech Companies to Change

　　Europeans can now choose what online services, including browsers² and search engines, to use for their mobile phones and computers. They can also choose where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used.

　　They are part of changes required under the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The DMA is a set of European Union laws that six large technology companies had to start following recently. Those companies include Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta, and TikTok owner ByteDance.

　　The DMA is the latest in a series of laws that Europe has passed as a world leader in controlling large tech companies. The companies have followed by changing long-held ways of doing business. For example, Apple will permit people to download smartphone apps outside of its App Store.

　　Here's a look at how the Digital Markets Act will work:

　　What companies have to follow the rules?

　　Some 22 services, from operating systems to messenger apps and social media companies, fall under the DMA.

　　They include Google services like Maps, YouTube, the Chrome browser¹ and the Android operating system. Others are the online store Amazon's Marketplace and Apple's Safari³ browser and operating system iOS.

　　Meta's social media and messaging sites Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp are included as well as Microsoft's operating system Windows and social media site LinkedIn.

　　The companies face the threat of large fines of up to 20 percent of their yearly worldwide income for repeated violations⁴. That could amount to billions of dollars. And they also face the threat of a breakup for major violations.

　　What effect will the rules have around the world?

　　Zach Meyers is an assistant director at the Center for European Reform, a research organization. He said, "If it works, many Western countries will probably try to follow the DMA..."

　　Already, countries like Japan, Britain, Mexico, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, and India are writing their own versions of DMA-like rules. The aim is to prevent tech companies from having too much control over online markets.

　　How will downloading apps change?

　　In one of the biggest changes, Apple has said it will let European iPhone users download apps outside its App Store, which comes with its devices.

　　Apple has long opposed such a move. A large part of its income comes from the 30 percent charge it demands for payments made through iOS apps. Apple has warned that downloading apps outside of its store will come with added security risks.

　　Now, Apple is cutting those charges for developers in Europe that choose to stay with its payment-processing system. But Apple is adding a 55-cent fee for each iOS app downloaded through outside app stores. Critics say that will persuade existing free apps to not use outside stores.

　　Avery Gardiner is a director at the music company Spotify. She said those outside app stores will never grow because they will be missing many apps that would need to be there for people to want to use those stores.

　　How will people get more choices online?

　　Users of mobile devices will have more choices online.

　　They will not be forced to use certain services like Apple's Safari browser or Google search engine. Android users can choose which search engine to use, and iPhone users will get to choose which browser will be their main one. Microsoft, meanwhile, will stop forcing people to use its Edge browser.

　　Some Google search results will show up differently because the DMA bans companies from giving preference to their own services. So, for example, searches for hotels will now show a list of booking sites like Expedia.

　　Users can also stop companies from using their online data to target them with advertising⁵.

　　The DMA also requires messaging systems to be able to work with each other.

　　Meta owns two messaging apps that fall under the rules. So it is expected to come up with a proposal on how Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp users can send messages, videos, and images to each other.

　　Words in This Story

　　app – n. a piece of software that you can download to a device such as a smartphone or tablet, for example to look up information or to play a game

　　browser – n. a computer program that lets you look at or read documents on the World Wide Web

　　preference – n. a greater interest in or desire for somebody/something than somebody/something else

　　booking – n. an arrangement to have something (such as a room) held for your use at a later time

1 browser   

n.浏览者

参考例句：

• View edits in a web browser.在浏览器中看编辑的效果。
• I think my browser has a list of shareware links.我想在浏览器中会有一系列的共享软件链接。

2 browsers   

浏览器

参考例句：

• Three-layer architecture is a model made up of browser, web server and background database server. 这种体系结构是由Browser、Web Server、Database Server组成的浏览器／Web服务器／后台数据库服务器三层模型。 来自互联网
• Another excellent approach is to abandon the browser entirely and, instead, create a non-browser-based, Internet-enabled application. 另一个非常好的方法是干脆放弃浏览器，取而代之，创建一个不基于浏览器，但却是基于互联网的应用。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

3 safari   

n.远征旅行(探险、考察)；探险队，狩猎队

参考例句：

• When we go on safari we like to cook on an open fire.我们远行狩猎时，喜欢露天生火做饭。
• They went on safari searching for the rare black rhinoceros.他们进行探险旅行，搜寻那稀有的黑犀牛。

4 violations   

违反( violation的名词复数 )； 冒犯； 违反（行为、事例）； 强奸

参考例句：

• This is one of the commonest traffic violations. 这是常见的违反交通规则之例。
• These violations of the code must cease forthwith. 这些违犯法规的行为必须立即停止。

5 advertising   

n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的

参考例句：

• Can you give me any advice on getting into advertising? 你能指点我如何涉足广告业吗?
• The advertising campaign is aimed primarily at young people. 这个广告宣传运动主要是针对年轻人的。