Last month, ACT | The App Association participated in several of the European Commission’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) enforcement track workshops. These compliance workshops brought together a wide range of stakeholders, highlighting viewpoints from across the app ecosystem in Europe. For two of these sessions, focused on Apple and Google, the App Association was joined by several of our startup member companies including:

  • Founder and CEO Mitchel Volkering for member company vaic.at
  • Founder and CEO Giuseppe Tomei for member company Proxim.ai
  • Managing Director Mike Griffin for member company Augmented Solutions and
  • Co-Founder and CEO Sveatoslav Vizitiu for member company Rhuna

For our members and many small businesses, these workshops are a rare opportunity to be heard.

During the sessions, Apple (30 June) and Google (1 July) outlined their proposed compliance plans for a wide range of DMA provisions.

Apple emphasised a security-first lens, highlighting concerns that DMA provisions could expose iOS users to increased risks. The company presented changes to its app distribution model, including potential mechanisms for alternative app stores and sideloading, while raising alarms about maintaining device integrity and user privacy.

During the Google workshop, the spotlight fell on the Android operating system and Google Search. Participants heard how Google is planning to implement new choice screens across Android devices, offering consumers alternatives to built-in apps and services. Additionally, Google discussed updates to app uninstallation flows and the enabling of alternative app distribution channels beyond the Play Store.

For many startups, gaining a seat at the table in these regulatory conversations is not just rare, it’s often impossible. That’s why our participation in these workshops was so important. Our members were not merely passive observers; they actively contributed to the dialogue, voicing concerns about how DMA implementation could harm trust in apps. Our members’ insights pointed to a fundamental risk: if users and developers alike lose faith in the transparency and safety of the app ecosystem, innovation could suffer. Trust is the cornerstone of commerce in the digital world. It is hard-earned and easily lost.

It is part of the mission of the App Association to help our members participate in this and other types of policy and regulatory discussions. Our startup members bring real-world experience to theoretical discussions, helping EU regulators and gatekeepers alike understand the day-to-day challenges of navigating app store policies, platform rules, and user expectations.

We look forward to continued engagement with EU policymakers to help ensure the digital platform ecosystem remains secure and trustworthy. If you’re an SME, startup or scaleup with questions or perspectives to share, we invite you to join ACT | The App Association. For more information, get in touch by emailing Brad Simonich, senior manager of global partnerships.