European Union: Announced European Commission investigation into Alphabet's rules on steering in Google Play compliance with Digital Markets Act

On 25 March 2024, the European Commission announced an investigation into Alphabet concerning its compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) in relation to the rules on steering in its app store, Google Play. The investigation concerns Article 5(4) of the DMA, which requires gatekeepers, such as Alphabet, to allow app developers to “steer” consumers to offers other than the gatekeeper’s app store without any charge. The Commission’s investigation focuses on the restrictions and limitations imposed by Alphabet, as they could undermine the free communication and promotion of offers by app developers. Further, the Commission noted that these restrictions impede the direct conclusion of contracts through the imposition of various charges. The Commission aims to conclude the investigation within 12 months.