The European Commission has urged the world’s largest digital platforms make data available on their interfaces for use by researchers. One of these platforms is the accommodation aggregator, Booking.com.
The EC announced in a statement on Thursday that it had sent out requests to 17 ‘very large online platforms’ (VLOPs) or ‘very large online search engines’ (VLOSEs), asking them to report the progress they have made in making the company’s data freely accessible by February 8. VLOPs and VLOSEs are classified as having more than 45 million monthly users.
“Access to data by researchers is key to ensure accountability and public scrutiny of platforms’ policies,” the Commission said.
This is the latest development in the Digital Services Act, the purpose of which is to assist with monitoring the presence of illegal content and goods on online platforms. In the case of Booking.com, the goal is to limit accommodation scams and dangers to the safety of users.
Under the Digital Markets Act, Booking.com will appear on the EC’s list of ‘gatekeepers’. These gatekeepers are large companies with the power to influence the ecosystem of a market. They will be subject to additional measures that discourage anti-competitive behaviour, which extends to third parties operating on the gatekeeper’s website and gaining access to the data they generate.
“We are engaged in constructive discussions with the European Commission and look forward to continuing this dialogue,” said a spokesperson for Booking.com.
