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Evropski parlament
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10-11-2025 16:10
Building an independent, open and healthy digital environment for European consumers

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Consumer uses digital tablet to manage ecommerce marketplace. Interacts with virtual shopping cart, sales data. Plan for retail expansion, online store growth underway. Business tech key for
Consumer uses digital tablet © Image used under license from Adobe Stock

The public hearing explored major challenges faced by European consumers in the digital environment, bringing together speakers from the Commission, data protection bodies, academia, and industry. Exchanges centred on algorithm transparency, content moderation, and consumer protection, particularly in light of the growing dominance of global platforms and Europe’s reliance on services from the U.S. and China.

Industry representatives voiced concerns about the implementation of the Digital Markets Act, warning that gatekeepers frequently ignore rules on default settings and user choice. They called for a clear EU tech strategy that strengthens European platforms, ensures a harmonised Single Market, and prioritises enforcement over new legislation. Building strong European digital players, they argued, is essential for innovation and consumer choice.

A researcher highlighted the risk of increasing dependency on foreign firms, pointing to disinformation, biased AI systems, child safety issues, and rising pressure on data centres, as systemic threats to Europe's digital sovereignty.

The Commission underlined the DMA's role in addressing market concentration and abusive practices and noted ongoing enforcement against major marketplaces. It stressed the need to pair strong rules with innovation, investment in independent infrastructure, and support for a safe, diverse, and open digital ecosystem.