Alphabet, Meta, Qualcomm team up for open digital ecosystems

Alphabet's Google, Meta Platforms, Qualcomm and seven other tech companies have teamed up to push for open digital ecosystems in response to new EU tech rules. Calling itself the Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE), the group said it wants to promote more open platforms and systems to boost growth and innovation in Europe.  

The group said it will work with academics, policymakers and companies on digital openness "through the implementation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and in future EU regulatory framework developments".   

The DMA mandates gatekeepers, referring to large tech entities that govern access to their platforms, to permit third parties to interoperate with the gatekeeper's services. Additionally, gatekeepers are required to allow their business users to promote their offerings and finalize contracts with customers outside the gatekeeper's platform. 

"We have had a number of conversations in the past few months about what 'good' looks like when it comes to digital ecosystems in Europe, what fosters innovation, and what will positively impact competitiveness. We think openness is the crucial element," Lynx founder Stan Larroque said in a statement.   

Other members of the group are Chinese smart devices maker Honor, China's Lenovo, French augmented reality start-up Lynx, U.S. telecoms equipment maker Motorola, UK electronics maker Nothing, Norwegian tech company Opera and German messaging services provider Wire.