Google, Meta Join Tech Coalition in Response to EU Rules

Alphabet's Google, Meta, Qualcomm, and other prominent tech companies have banded together to form the Coalition for Open Digital Ecosystems (CODE). The unusual display of unity among rivals is a direct response to Europe's new tech regulation, and particularly, the Digital Markets Act.

That law aims to make big tech companies remove barriers to competition and give users more choice, particularly over how digital platforms use their data.

The new coalition says it will try and make that happen. In a statement to Reuters, the founder of one of CODE's member companies, a French augmented-reality startup called Lynx, said that "openness is the crucial element."

"We have had a number of conversations in the past few months about what 'good' looks like when it comes to digital ecosystems in Europe, what fosters innovation, and what will positively impact competitiveness. We think openness is the crucial element," said Lynx founder Stan Larroque.

CODE says it will work with academics, policymakers and companies to bring member companies into line with Europe's new laws, and foster a more open digital landscape overall.