Majority of Europeans express dissatisfaction, stating that the EU's Digital Markets Act negatively impacts the internet, according to surveys.
The European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), implemented a year ago, is under scrutiny as a survey commissioned by the Computer & Communications Industry Association (CCIA Europe) reveals its potential effects on ordinary users.
The Nextrade Group conducted the survey, polling 5,000 consumers across 20 EU member states between April and May 2025. The results paint a picture of increased difficulty in finding relevant content and services online.
Two-thirds of respondents reported needing more clicks or more complex search terms to find what they were looking for, a problem particularly prevalent among frequent search users, 61% of whom reported spending up to 50% more time searching compared to before the DMA's implementation.
One-in-four respondents reported difficulties in finding relevant job opportunities on LinkedIn, while a third pointed to a reduction in the personalisation of streaming and video content. More than 40% of respondents are willing to pay extra to restore the functionality they enjoyed before the DMA was implemented.
The survey also highlighted concerns regarding the integration of popular services. More than a third reported a decline in the integration of Google Maps, and 42% of frequent travellers reported that flight and hotel searches have deteriorated.
The European Commission is currently consulting on the DMA, with submissions closing on September 24. The Commission's actions regarding fines on tech giants Apple and Meta under the DMA have been the subject of recent news updates.
Reports suggest that the Commission is considering limiting fines due on Apple and Meta under the DMA and dropping a separate case against Apple entirely. This decision, according to Daniel Friedlaender, senior vice president and head of CCIA Europe, seems to be delivering the opposite of its intended purpose.
Maria Teresa Stecher, policy manager at CCIA Europe, stated that the findings highlight the real-world impact of the DMA on services used daily by Europeans. The Commission has not been mentioned as a source for this new fact, but a tweet from Brussels Signal provides a link to a news article about the potential actions regarding fines on Apple and Meta under the DMA.
As the consultation period for the DMA comes to a close, the question remains: Will the EU's digital regulation strike the right balance between competition and consumer experience?
