**EU Investigates How Apple, Google, and Others Are Tackling Online Scams**
*By Dwaipayan Roy | Sep 23, 2025, 08:02 PM*
The European Union (EU) has launched a scrutiny of major tech companies including Apple, Google, and Microsoft to examine their efforts in combating online scams. According to the Financial Times, this examination is being conducted under the framework of the Digital Services Act. Alongside these tech giants, Booking Holdings — the parent company of Booking.com and other travel platforms — is also under regulatory review.
**Regulatory Concerns and EU’s Commitment to Safer Online Spaces**
Henna Virkkunen, an EU official, highlighted the increasing prevalence of criminal activities on the internet, stating, “We see that more and more criminal actions are taking place online.” She emphasized the necessity for online platforms to proactively detect and prevent illegal content from proliferating. This underscores the EU’s dedication to fostering a safer digital environment for all internet users.
**Focus Areas: Fraudulent Apps, Fake Search Results, and Bogus Listings**
The investigation will particularly focus on how Apple and Google address fraudulent applications, such as counterfeit banking apps, within their app stores. Additionally, the EU will assess Google’s and Microsoft’s search engines to determine whether they are inadvertently serving fake or misleading search results.
Booking Holdings will be scrutinized for its management of accommodation listings, especially to identify and mitigate bogus or fraudulent offerings. This broad approach reflects the EU’s commitment to tackling online scams across various digital services and platforms.
**Potential Financial Implications for Tech Companies**
The EU’s information requests may lead to formal investigations into the practices of these companies. Should any wrongdoing be identified, Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking Holdings could face substantial fines, potentially reaching up to 6% of their annual global turnover.
The ongoing scrutiny highlights the EU’s proactive role in holding major digital platforms accountable and ensuring consumer protection in the rapidly evolving digital landscape.
https://www.newsbytesapp.com/news/science/eu-probes-apple-google-microsoft-over-online-scams/story
