Open Tech Platforms: Technology and Governance Mechanisms

How can openness under the DMA work in practice?

EU policymakers increasingly view platform “openness” as a way to strengthen competition and innovation in digital markets. The Digital Markets Act mandates greater data portability and interoperability for gatekeepers, but leaves many critical implementation questions unresolved.

In this Issue Paper, CERRE Director of Research Zach Meyers examines how to implement these openness obligations in a way that is effective, proportionate, and consistent with security, privacy and innovation incentives. The paper analyses the technical and governance choices that shape portability and interoperability in practice, including interface design, service quality, change management and security safeguards.

The paper finds that openness depends not only on access rights, but also on governance mechanisms that deliver transparency, predictability and investment certainty for business users. It concludes that the Commission should encourage a gradual shift towards more inclusive and institutionalised governance, tailored to the maturity and risk profile of different services, to ensure that openness under the DMA is delivered in a proportionate but effective way.