The EBU has combined with the European Digital Radio Alliance (EDRA) and the Association of European Radios (AER) to call on policymakers to prevent anti-competitive activities by digital voice assistant platforms that act as a gatekeeper to other services.
In a letter, co-signed by the three organisations, they’ve called for voice assistants to be clearly brought into the scope of the proposed Digital Markets Act. They’re looking for a clear reference to the services within the text.
“A limited number of platform gatekeepers enjoy significant market power and can use this power to engage in anti-competitive practices such as self-preferencing, restricting access to data, using data from third party services to develop their own services, and inserting publicity without permission,” the EBU said in a statement.
While not mentioned by name, the letter is a clear warning to the likes of Google, Apple and Amazon, whose smart speaker products continue to find growth within both the home and the car.
Having been first to provide services to the new smart speakers and voice assistants, the European radio and audio sector is now looking to maintain its position. The partners argue the case for regulating voice assistants under the DMA is not just economic, but also crucial to safeguard media pluralism and the provision of trusted information.
