EU exempts Apple and Microsoft for iMessage and Bing from key digital law

The European Union's Digital Markets Act, which takes effect in three weeks' time, imposes conditions on Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and ByteDance.

Apple has won an exemption for its iMessage and Microsoft for its Bing search engine from new EU tech rules after the companies convinced antitrust regulators their services are not gateways for businesses to reach end-users.

The European Union's Digital Markets Act, which takes effect in three weeks, requires Microsoft, Apple, Alphabet's Google, Amazon, Meta Platforms, and ByteDance to allow third-party apps or app stores on their platforms and make it easier for people to switch to rivals. The companies are also prohibited from favouring their services over rivals.