EU asks Apple, Google, Microsoft & Booking to explain how they police online financial scams

The European Union has sent formal information requests to Apple, Google, Microsoft and Booking Holdings under the Digital Services Act (DSA), asking how the platforms detect and prevent online financial scams. Regulators will probe fake banking apps in app stores, fraudulent accommodation listings and manipulated search results.

Why it matters

EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen warned that criminal activity is increasingly moving online and that platforms must do more to detect and prevent illegal content. The EU estimates financial losses from online fraud exceed €4 billion a year and says the rise of AI has made scams harder to spot. Under the DSA, companies can face penalties up to 6% of global annual revenue for failing to adequately combat illegal content.

What regulators are investigating

• Fake banking apps on Apple’s App Store and Google Play
• Fraudulent accommodation listings on Booking platforms
• Fake or manipulated search results in Google Search and Microsoft Bing

Potential implications

Companies will have the chance to respond to the requests; however, failure to comply could lead to significant fines. Recent large fines in Europe against US tech firms have already increased scrutiny and geopolitical tension.

Sources

Main coverage: Engadget — EU wants Apple, Google and Microsoft to clamp down on online scams

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