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The UK could subject big tech companies to hefty fines if they don\u2019t comply with new rules meant to promote competition in digital markets. On Thursday, lawmakers passed<\/a> the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumer Bill (DMCC) through Parliament, which will let regulators enforce rules without the help of the courts.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The DMCC<\/a> also addresses consumer protection issues by banning fake reviews, forcing companies to be more transparent about their subscription contracts, regulating secondary ticket sales, and getting rid of hidden fees. It will also force certain companies to report mergers to the UK\u2019s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Only the companies the CMA designates as having Strategic Market Status (SMS) have to comply. These SMS companies are described as having<\/a> \u201csubstantial and entrenched market power\u201d and \u201ca position of strategic significance\u201d in the UK. They must have a global revenue of more than \u00a325 billion or UK revenue of more than \u00a31 billion.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n The law will also give the CMA the authority to determine whether a company has broken a law, require compliance, and issue a fine \u2014 all without going through the court system. The CMA can fine companies up to 10 percent of the total value of a business\u2019s global revenue for violating the new rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n If all this sounds familiar, it\u2019s because the European Union enacted a similar law, called the Digital Markets Act (DMA)<\/a>. The legislation issues sweeping requirements for companies deemed digital \u201cgatekeepers,\u201d such as Apple, Google, Meta, and Amazon. However, unlike the DMA, the DMCC offers a more tailored approach<\/a> to the requirements that each SMS firm will have to meet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Some companies, such as Spotify and Epic Games, have long sought government intervention to help fight against the app store fees imposed by companies like Apple. In a post published<\/a> in response to the DMCC\u2019s passing, Spotify says the UK should act to regulate Apple\u2019s practices. \u201cApple has spent millions \u2014 in country after country\u2014trying to circumvent and make a mockery of laws like the DMCC,\u201d Spotify CEO Daniel Ek says in a statement. The DMCC has the potential to unlock real competition and growth and Apple must be held accountable in the U.K. because we cannot miss the opportunity to get it right.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Apple has faced criticism over its response to the DMA, and the European Union has already opened an investigation<\/a> to evaluate whether the company\u2019s complying with the region\u2019s new rules.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n