Transparency advocates report that over 20% of attendees at an EU event discussing the regulation of major tech companies failed to disclose their industry connections. This lack of transparency leads to a distorted public discourse.
Researchers from three NGOs presented at a European Commission workshop earlier this year to assess companies’ compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which aims to combat anti-competitive practices. They examined approximately 4,000 registrations.
The DMA, implemented in March, designates certain companies like ByteDance (owner of Google’s parent company Alphabet), Amazon, Apple, TikTok, Meta, and Microsoft as “gatekeepers” to uphold fair competition. These companies must adhere to EU regulations, including not favoring their own products over competitors or restricting users from uninstalling preinstalled software.
Apple, Alphabet, and Meta are currently under investigation for violating the Digital Services Act (DSA) and could face substantial fines. While Apple and Meta claim compliance, Google has made changes and defended its actions.
During the workshops held to check compliance, participants were asked to disclose their affiliations with the companies discussed, yet 21% of attendees had undisclosed ties with these companies, such as law firms, lobbying firms, or industry associations.
One of the report authors, Margarida Silva, expressed that public workshops can be effective in ensuring compliance with regulations, but without strict disclosure protocols, they can be exploited by individuals hired or funded by tech giants.
The report, co-authored by European Business Watch and Lobby Control in Germany, highlights the influence of big tech companies on EU policy and warns about the potential manipulation of public debates.
Representatives from lobbying and PR firms attended the workshop without disclosing their connections to companies like Meta and Amazon, as revealed by the report.
Industry groups like DigitalEurope and CCIA also failed to declare their relationships with gatekeepers, as noted by researchers.
The report also mentions the International Center for Law and Economics (ICLE), which did not disclose funding from Amazon and Meta while participating in the discussions.
Concerns were raised about the lack of transparency and potential conflicts of interest in the interactions between tech companies and regulatory bodies, urging for stricter enforcement measures to prevent undue influence.
Experts emphasize the need for a level playing field in policy discussions to ensure diverse voices are heard and to avoid the dominance of powerful corporations.
Flint Europe, Skadden, and Freshfields did not respond to requests for comments.
Source: www.theguardian.com
