Filenews 24 September 2025
The European Commission has targeted tech giants by asking for an explanation of the measures they are taking against online scams. As part of the Digital Services Regulation (DSA), the Commission sent information requests to Apple, Google, Microsoft and the booking platform Booking, asking for information on how they prevent fraudsters from acting on their services.
Specifically, the investigation focuses on Apple's App Store, Google Play, Microsoft's Bing search engine, and Booking.com, as deceptive apps that mimic banking services or fake ads leading to scam websites are observed.
A Commission spokesman stressed that this is a "critical step in protecting users in the EU" and assured that it will be assessed whether the platforms are "doing the right thing".
The companies responded with statements:
- Microsoft said it is committed to providing secure online experiences and will work with Brussels.
- Google underlined that it offers "high protection" to its products, detecting and deleting millions of misleading results every day.
- Booking stressed that in 2024 alone it reduced fake bookings by 83%, expressing a mood for "constructive dialogue".
The DSA Regulation imposes strict obligations on digital platforms to protect users from misinformation, illegal content, and counterfeit products. In the event of a violation, fines of up to 6% of annual global turnover are provided.
The Commission's investigations have previously targeted Meta's Facebook and Instagram, TikTok, the X platform (formerly Twitter) and the Chinese website AliExpress. These moves have provoked reactions from US President Donald Trump, who denounces "interventionism" and threatens retaliation.
Commissioner Henna Virkunen said that several of the current investigations would be completed in the coming months, while she did not rule out the launch of new ones.
