Brussels asks Booking, Microsoft, Google and Apple for information on online scams

The European Commission said today that it has requested information from technology platforms Microsoft, Google, Apple and Booking.com due to alleged misuse for online scams in the European Union (EU), but has not yet opened an investigation.

"Today, the Commission sent a request for information under the Digital Services Act to four online platforms, Microsoft, Google, Apple and Booking.com, to monitor and request information on how they ensure that their services are not being misused by fraudsters," said Thomas Regnier, spokesperson for the EU Executive for Technological Sovereignty.

When questioned at the institution's daily press conference in Brussels, the spokesperson noted that "this is an essential step to protect users across the EU against some of these practices and to ensure that platforms in the EU also play their role."

Still, he stressed that it was “just a request for information.”

"We are not at the stage where we have opened a formal investigation," he said, assuring that the institution is committed "to combating financial fraud and protecting users."

The position comes as many online scams are reported in the EU through these large platforms, with scammers sending, for example, official-looking emails or messages asking for account updates, booking confirmations or payment for services.

In the case of Microsoft and Apple, it is common to receive fake account lockout or security warnings to trick victims into providing passwords or banking information.

With Google, false notifications about suspicious storage or access to Gmail are on the rise, while with Booking.com, fictitious reservations or payment requests outside the platform are emerging.

In August 2024, the EU became the first jurisdiction in the world with rules for digital platforms, which are now required to remove illegal and harmful content under the new Digital Services Act.

To this end, the European Commission has identified 19 very large online platforms, with 45 million monthly active users, which must now comply with new rules.

The law was created to protect the fundamental rights of online users in the EU and became a first for the digital space, holding platforms accountable for harmful content, including disinformation.

Furthermore, the new Digital Markets Law has been in force in the EU since November 2022, which stipulates rules on what technology companies with 'gatekeeper' status are and are not allowed to do in the EU, a kind of blacklist with rules for these large platforms.

Tech companies that fail to comply with these two new laws may face fines commensurate with their size.