Online platforms
In the area of digital market supervision, the Authority's principal tasks are:
- supervising platforms to ensure a safe online environment (Digital Services Act - DSA);
- assisting the European Commission, where necessary, to ensure compliance with the rules governing digital market access controllers, known as 'gatekeepers' (Digital Markets Act - DMA);
- defending the collective interests of business users of online platforms (Platform to Business - P2B).
Supervising platforms to ensure a safe online environment (Digital Services Act - DSA)
In accordance with Regulation (EU) 2022/2065 on a Single Market For Digital Services, the Authority, as the Digital Services Coordinator in Luxembourg, supervises platforms to ensure a safe online environment.
Providers of intermediary services (network infrastructure providers, hosting service providers, online platforms or search engines etc.) must comply with obligations that correspond to their role, size and impact in the digital ecosystem.
Users of a platform who believe that there has been a breach of the DSA - whether they are a private individual or a business - may file a complaint with the Competition Authority.
The Authority has extensive investigatory and coercive powers to carry out investigations and oversight, and enforce the rules laid down in the DSA.
Assisting the Commission with the supervision of gatekeepers (Digital Markets Act - DMA)
In accordance with the Law of 29 March 2023 amending the Law of 30 November 2022 on competition with a view to (in particular) implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/1925 on digital markets, the Authority assists the European Commission, where necessary, with the supervision of digital market access controllers, known as 'gatekeepers' (Digital Markets Act - DMA).
The DMA imposes certain prior obligations that large digital platforms must meet to guarantee free competition.
These rules are designed to maintain fairness and equal opportunities for digital market actors within the European Union (EU), by ensuring that the markets on which gatekeepers operate remain contestable.
Defending the collective interests of business users of online platforms (Platform to Business - P2B)
In accordance with the amended Law of 5 March 2021 on fairness and transparency for business users of online intermediation services, the Authority defends the collective interests of business users or corporate website users.
Providers of online platforms ('intermediation services') and online search engines must comply with certain obligations relating to their general terms and conditions and commercial practices.
Business users or corporate website users who believe they have been harmed by a practice prohibited by law may apply to the Authority for an injunction.
The Authority is entitled to institute proceedings before the Luxembourg courts and apply to the district court for an injunction with a view to stopping or prohibiting any breach of the rules on the part of online platform or search engine providers.
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