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2022/1925 EN Art. 2 cercato: 'online intermediation services' . Output generated live by software developed by IusOnDemand srl


expand index online intermediation services:

    CHAPTER I
    SUBJECT MATTER, SCOPE AND DEFINITIONS

    CHAPTER II
    GATEKEEPERS
  • 6 Article 2 Definitions

  • CHAPTER III
    PRACTICES OF GATEKEEPERS THAT LIMIT CONTESTABILITY OR ARE UNFAIR
  • 2 Article 5 Obligations for gatekeepers

  • CHAPTER IV
    MARKET INVESTIGATION

    CHAPTER V
    INVESTIGATIVE, ENFORCEMENT AND MONITORING POWERS

    CHAPTER VI
    FINAL PROVISIONS


whereas online intermediation services:


definitions:


cloud tag: and the number of total unique words without stopwords is: 833

 

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1)

gatekeepermeans an undertaking providing core_platform_services, designated pursuant to Article 3;

(2)

core_platform_servicemeans any of the following:

(a)

online intermediation services;

(b)

online_search_engines;

(c)

online_social_networking_services;

(d)

video-sharing_platform_services;

(e)

number-independent_interpersonal_communications_services;

(f)

operating_systems;

(g)

web_browsers;

(h)

virtual_assistants;

(i)

cloud_computing_services;

(j)

online advertising services, including any advertising networks, advertising exchanges and any other advertising intermediation services, provided by an undertaking that provides any of the core_platform_services listed in points (a) to (i);

(3)

information_society_servicemeans any service as defined in Article 1(1), point (b), of Directive (EU) 2015/1535;

(4)

digital_sectormeans the sector of products and services provided by means of, or through, information_society_services;

(5)

online intermediation servicesmeans online intermediation services as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150;

(6)

online_search_enginemeans an online_search_engine as defined in Article 2, point (5), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150;

(7)

online_social_networking_servicemeans a platform that enables end_users to connect and communicate with each other, share content and discover other users and content across multiple devices and, in particular, via chats, posts, videos and recommendations;

(8)

video-sharing_platform_servicemeans a video-sharing_platform_service as defined in Article 1(1), point (aa), of Directive 2010/13/EU;

(9)

number-independent_interpersonal_communications_servicemeans a number-independent_interpersonal_communications_service as defined in Article 2, point (7), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972;

(10)

operating_systemmeans a system software that controls the basic functions of the hardware or software and enables software_applications to run on it;

(11)

web_browsermeans a software_application that enables end_users to access and interact with web content hosted on servers that are connected to networks such as the Internet, including standalone web_browsers as well as web_browsers integrated or embedded in software or similar;

(12)

virtual_assistantmeans a software that can process demands, tasks or questions, including those based on audio, visual, written input, gestures or motions, and that, based on those demands, tasks or questions, provides access to other services or controls connected physical devices;

(13)

cloud_computing_servicemeans a cloud_computing_service as defined in Article 4, point (19), of Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council (24);

(14)

software_application_storesmeans a type of online intermediation services, which is focused on software_applications as the intermediated product or service;

(15)

software_applicationmeans any digital product or service that runs on an operating_system;

(16)

payment_servicemeans a payment_service as defined in Article 4, point (3) of Directive (EU) 2015/2366;

(17)

‘technical service supporting payment_servicemeans a service within the meaning of Article 3, point (j), of Directive (EU) 2015/2366;

(18)

payment_system_for_in-app_purchasesmeans a software_application, service or user interface which facilitates purchases of digital content or digital services within a software_application, including content, subscriptions, features or functionality, and the payments for such purchases;

(19)

identification_servicemeans a type of service provided together with or in support of core_platform_services that enables any type of verification of the identity of end_users or business_users, regardless of the technology used;

(20)

end_usermeans any natural or legal person using core_platform_services other than as a business_user;

(21)

business_usermeans any natural or legal person acting in a commercial or professional capacity using core_platform_services for the purpose of or in the course of providing goods or services to end_users;

(22)

rankingmeans the relative prominence given to goods or services offered through online intermediation services, online_social_networking_services, video-sharing_platform_services or virtual_assistants, or the relevance given to search_results by online_search_engines, as presented, organised or communicated by the undertakings providing online intermediation services, online_social_networking_services, video-sharing_platform_services, virtual_assistants or online_search_engines, irrespective of the technological means used for such presentation, organisation or communication and irrespective of whether only one result is presented or communicated;

(23)

search_resultsmeans any information in any format, including textual, graphic, vocal or other outputs, returned in response to, and related to, a search query, irrespective of whether the information returned is a paid or an unpaid result, a direct answer or any product, service or information offered in connection with the organic results, or displayed along with or partly or entirely embedded in them;

(24)

datameans any digital representation of acts, facts or information and any compilation of such acts, facts or information, including in the form of sound, visual or audiovisual recording;

(25)

‘personal datameans personal data as defined in Article 4, point (1), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(26)

‘non-personal datameans data other than personal data;

(27)

undertakingmeans an entity engaged in an economic activity, regardless of its legal status and the way in which it is financed, including all linked enterprises or connected undertakings that form a group through the direct or indirect control of an enterprise or undertaking by another;

(28)

controlmeans the possibility of exercising decisive influence on an undertaking, within the meaning of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004;

(29)

interoperabilitymeans the ability to exchange information and mutually use the information which has been exchanged through interfaces or other solutions, so that all elements of hardware or software work with other hardware and software and with users in all the ways in which they are intended to function;

(30)

turnovermeans the amount derived by an undertaking within the meaning of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004;

(31)

profilingmeans profiling as defined in Article 4, point (4), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(32)

consentmeans consent as defined in Article 4, point (11), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(33)

national_courtmeans a court or tribunal of a Member State within the meaning of Article 267 TFEU.

CHAPTER II

GATEKEEPERS

Article 2

Definitions

For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definitions apply:

(1)

gatekeeper’ means an undertaking providing core_platform_services, designated pursuant to Article 3;

(2)

core_platform_service’ means any of the following:

(a)

online intermediation services;

(b)

online_search_engines;

(c)

online_social_networking_services;

(d)

video-sharing_platform_services;

(e)

number-independent_interpersonal_communications_services;

(f)

operating_systems;

(g)

web_browsers;

(h)

virtual_assistants;

(i)

cloud_computing_services;

(j)

online advertising services, including any advertising networks, advertising exchanges and any other advertising intermediation services, provided by an undertaking that provides any of the core_platform_services listed in points (a) to (i);

(3)

information_society_service’ means any service as defined in Article 1(1), point (b), of Directive (EU) 2015/1535;

(4)

digital_sector’ means the sector of products and services provided by means of, or through, information_society_services;

(5)

online intermediation services’ means online intermediation services as defined in Article 2, point (2), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150;

(6)

online_search_engine’ means an online_search_engine as defined in Article 2, point (5), of Regulation (EU) 2019/1150;

(7)

online_social_networking_service’ means a platform that enables end_users to connect and communicate with each other, share content and discover other users and content across multiple devices and, in particular, via chats, posts, videos and recommendations;

(8)

video-sharing_platform_service’ means a video-sharing_platform_service as defined in Article 1(1), point (aa), of Directive 2010/13/EU;

(9)

number-independent_interpersonal_communications_service’ means a number-independent_interpersonal_communications_service as defined in Article 2, point (7), of Directive (EU) 2018/1972;

(10)

operating_system’ means a system software that controls the basic functions of the hardware or software and enables software_applications to run on it;

(11)

web_browser’ means a software_application that enables end_users to access and interact with web content hosted on servers that are connected to networks such as the Internet, including standalone web_browsers as well as web_browsers integrated or embedded in software or similar;

(12)

virtual_assistant’ means a software that can process demands, tasks or questions, including those based on audio, visual, written input, gestures or motions, and that, based on those demands, tasks or questions, provides access to other services or controls connected physical devices;

(13)

cloud_computing_service’ means a cloud_computing_service as defined in Article 4, point (19), of Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council (24);

(14)

software_application_stores’ means a type of online intermediation services, which is focused on software_applications as the intermediated product or service;

(15)

software_application’ means any digital product or service that runs on an operating_system;

(16)

payment_service’ means a payment_service as defined in Article 4, point (3) of Directive (EU) 2015/2366;

(17)

‘technical service supporting payment_service’ means a service within the meaning of Article 3, point (j), of Directive (EU) 2015/2366;

(18)

payment_system_for_in-app_purchases’ means a software_application, service or user interface which facilitates purchases of digital content or digital services within a software_application, including content, subscriptions, features or functionality, and the payments for such purchases;

(19)

identification_service’ means a type of service provided together with or in support of core_platform_services that enables any type of verification of the identity of end_users or business_users, regardless of the technology used;

(20)

end_user’ means any natural or legal person using core_platform_services other than as a business_user;

(21)

business_user’ means any natural or legal person acting in a commercial or professional capacity using core_platform_services for the purpose of or in the course of providing goods or services to end_users;

(22)

ranking’ means the relative prominence given to goods or services offered through online intermediation services, online_social_networking_services, video-sharing_platform_services or virtual_assistants, or the relevance given to search_results by online_search_engines, as presented, organised or communicated by the undertakings providing online intermediation services, online_social_networking_services, video-sharing_platform_services, virtual_assistants or online_search_engines, irrespective of the technological means used for such presentation, organisation or communication and irrespective of whether only one result is presented or communicated;

(23)

search_results’ means any information in any format, including textual, graphic, vocal or other outputs, returned in response to, and related to, a search query, irrespective of whether the information returned is a paid or an unpaid result, a direct answer or any product, service or information offered in connection with the organic results, or displayed along with or partly or entirely embedded in them;

(24)

data’ means any digital representation of acts, facts or information and any compilation of such acts, facts or information, including in the form of sound, visual or audiovisual recording;

(25)

‘personal data’ means personal data as defined in Article 4, point (1), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(26)

‘non-personal data’ means data other than personal data;

(27)

undertaking’ means an entity engaged in an economic activity, regardless of its legal status and the way in which it is financed, including all linked enterprises or connected undertakings that form a group through the direct or indirect control of an enterprise or undertaking by another;

(28)

control’ means the possibility of exercising decisive influence on an undertaking, within the meaning of Article 3(2) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004;

(29)

interoperability’ means the ability to exchange information and mutually use the information which has been exchanged through interfaces or other solutions, so that all elements of hardware or software work with other hardware and software and with users in all the ways in which they are intended to function;

(30)

turnover’ means the amount derived by an undertaking within the meaning of Article 5(1) of Regulation (EC) No 139/2004;

(31)

profiling’ means profiling as defined in Article 4, point (4), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(32)

consent’ means consent as defined in Article 4, point (11), of Regulation (EU) 2016/679;

(33)

national_court’ means a court or tribunal of a Member State within the meaning of Article 267 TFEU.

CHAPTER II

GATEKEEPERS

Article 5

Obligations for gatekeepers

1.   The gatekeeper shall comply with all obligations set out in this Article with respect to each of its core_platform_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9).

2.   The gatekeeper shall not do any of the following:

(a)

process, for the purpose of providing online advertising services, personal data of end_users using services of third parties that make use of core_platform_services of the gatekeeper;

(b)

combine personal data from the relevant core_platform_service with personal data from any further core_platform_services or from any other services provided by the gatekeeper or with personal data from third-party services;

(c)

cross-use personal data from the relevant core_platform_service in other services provided separately by the gatekeeper, including other core_platform_services, and vice versa; and

(d)

sign in end_users to other services of the gatekeeper in order to combine personal data,

unless the end_user has been presented with the specific choice and has given consent within the meaning of Article 4, point (11), and Article 7 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679.

Where the consent given for the purposes of the first subparagraph has been refused or withdrawn by the end_user, the gatekeeper shall not repeat its request for consent for the same purpose more than once within a period of one year.

This paragraph is without prejudice to the possibility for the gatekeeper to rely on Article 6(1), points (c), (d) and (e) of Regulation (EU) 2016/679, where applicable.

3.   The gatekeeper shall not prevent business_users from offering the same products or services to end_users through third-party online intermediation services or through their own direct online sales channel at prices or conditions that are different from those offered through the online intermediation services of the gatekeeper.

4.   The gatekeeper shall allow business_users, free of charge, to communicate and promote offers, including under different conditions, to end_users acquired via its core_platform_service or through other channels, and to conclude contracts with those end_users, regardless of whether, for that purpose, they use the core_platform_services of the gatekeeper.

5.   The gatekeeper shall allow end_users to access and use, through its core_platform_services, content, subscriptions, features or other items, by using the software_application of a business_user, including where those end_users acquired such items from the relevant business_user without using the core_platform_services of the gatekeeper.

6.   The gatekeeper shall not directly or indirectly prevent or restrict business_users or end_users from raising any issue of non-compliance with the relevant Union or national law by the gatekeeper with any relevant public authority, including national_courts, related to any practice of the gatekeeper. This is without prejudice to the right of business_users and gatekeepers to lay down in their agreements the terms of use of lawful complaints-handling mechanisms.

7.   The gatekeeper shall not require end_users to use, or business_users to use, to offer, or to interoperate with, an identification_service, a web_browser engine or a payment_service, or technical services that support the provision of payment_services, such as payment systems for in-app purchases, of that gatekeeper in the context of services provided by the business_users using that gatekeeper’s core_platform_services.

8.   The gatekeeper shall not require business_users or end_users to subscribe to, or register with, any further core_platform_services listed in the designation decision pursuant to Article 3(9) or which meet the thresholds in Article 3(2), point (b), as a condition for being able to use, access, sign up for or registering with any of that gatekeeper’s core_platform_services listed pursuant to that Article.

9.   The gatekeeper shall provide each advertiser to which it supplies online advertising services, or third parties authorised by advertisers, upon the advertiser’s request, with information on a daily basis free of charge, concerning each advertisement placed by the advertiser, regarding:

(a)

the price and fees paid by that advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, for each of the relevant online advertising services provided by the gatekeeper,

(b)

the remuneration received by the publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, subject to the publisher’s consent; and

(c)

the metrics on which each of the prices, fees and remunerations are calculated.

In the event that a publisher does not consent to the sharing of information regarding the remuneration received, as referred to in point (b) of the first subparagraph, the gatekeeper shall provide each advertiser free of charge with information concerning the daily average remuneration received by that publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, for the relevant advertisements.

10.   The gatekeeper shall provide each publisher to which it supplies online advertising services, or third parties authorised by publishers, upon the publisher’s request, with free of charge information on a daily basis, concerning each advertisement displayed on the publisher’s inventory, regarding:

(a)

the remuneration received and the fees paid by that publisher, including any deductions and surcharges, for each of the relevant online advertising services provided by the gatekeeper;

(b)

the price paid by the advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, subject to the advertiser’s consent; and

(c)

the metrics on which each of the prices and remunerations are calculated.

In the event an advertiser does not consent to the sharing of information, the gatekeeper shall provide each publisher free of charge with information concerning the daily average price paid by that advertiser, including any deductions and surcharges, for the relevant advertisements.

Article 54

Entry into force and application

This Regulation shall enter into force on the twentieth day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

It shall apply from 2 May 2023.

However, Article 3(6) and (7) and Articles 40, 46, 47, 48, 49 and 50 shall apply from 1 November 2022 and Article 42 and Article 43 shall apply from 25 June 2023.

Nevertheless, if the date of 25 June 2023 precedes the date of application referred to in the second paragraph of this Article, the application of Article 42 and Article 43 shall be postponed until the date of application referred to in the second paragraph of this Article.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Strasbourg, 14 September 2022.

For the European Parliament

The President

R. METSOLA

For the Council

The President

M. BEK


(1)  OJ C 286, 16.7.2021, p. 64.

(2)  OJ C 440, 29.10.2021, p. 67.

(3)  Position of the European Parliament of 5 July 2022 (not yet published in the Official Journal) and decision of the Council of 18 July 2022.

(4)  Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC ( General Data Protection Regulation) (OJ L 119, 4.5.2016, p. 1).

(5)  Regulation (EU) 2019/1150 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 20 June 2019 on promoting fairness and transparency for business_users of online intermediation services (OJ L 186, 11.7.2019, p. 57).

(6)  Directive 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July 2002 concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector (OJ L 201, 31.7.2002, p. 37).

(7)  Directive 2005/29/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 May 2005 concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market and amending Council Directive 84/450/EEC, Directives 97/7/EC, 98/27/EC and 2002/65/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Regulation (EC) No 2006/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council (‘Unfair Commercial Practices Directive’) (OJ L 149, 11.6.2005, p. 22).

(8)  Directive 2010/13/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 10 March 2010 on the coordination of certain provisions laid down by law, regulation or administrative action in Member States concerning the provision of audiovisual media services (Audiovisual Media Services Directive) (OJ L 95, 15.4.2010, p. 1).

(9)  Directive (EU) 2015/2366 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2015 on payment_services in the internal market, amending Directives 2002/65/EC, 2009/110/EC and 2013/36/EU and Regulation (EU) No 1093/2010, and repealing Directive 2007/64/EC (OJ L 337, 23.12.2015, p. 35).

(10)  Directive (EU) 2019/790 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on copyright and related rights in the Digital Single Market and amending Directives 96/9/EC and 2001/29/EC (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019, p. 92).

(11)  Directive (EU) 2019/882 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 17 April 2019 on the accessibility requirements for products and services (OJ L 151, 7.6.2019, p. 70).

(12)  Council Directive 93/13/EEC of 5 April 1993 on unfair terms in consumer contracts (OJ L 95, 21.4.1993, p. 29).

(13)  Directive (EU) 2015/1535 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 September 2015 laying down a procedure for the provision of information in the field of technical regulations and of rules on Information Society services (OJ L 241, 17.9.2015, p. 1).

(14)  Directive (EU) 2018/1972 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 11 December 2018 establishing the European Electronic Communications Code (OJ L 321, 17.12.2018, p. 36).

(15)  Directive (EU) 2016/2102 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 October 2016 on the accessibility of the websites and mobile applications of public sector bodies (OJ L 327, 2.12.2016, p. 1).

(16)  Regulation (EU) No 182/2011 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 February 2011 laying down the rules and general principles concerning mechanisms for control by the Member States of the Commission's exercise of implementing powers (OJ L 55, 28.2.2011, p. 13).

(17)  Regulation (EU) 2018/1725 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2018 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data by the Union institutions, bodies, offices and agencies and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Regulation (EC) No 45/2001 and Decision No 1247/2002/EC (OJ L 295, 21.11.2018, p. 39).

(18)  Council Regulation (EC) No 1/2003 of 16 December 2002 on the implementation of the rules on competition laid down in Articles 81 and 82 of the Treaty (OJ L 1, 4.1.2003, p. 1).

(19)  OJ L 123, 12.5.2016, p. 1.

(20)  Directive (EU) 2019/1937 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2019 on the protection of persons who report breaches of Union law (OJ L 305, 26.11.2019, p. 17).

(21)  Directive (EU) 2020/1828 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 November 2020 on representative actions for the protection of the collective interests of consumers and repealing Directive 2009/22/EC (OJ L 409, 4.12.2020, p. 1).

(22)  OJ C 147, 26.4.2021, p. 4.

(23)  Council Regulation (EC) No 139/2004 of 20 January 2004 on the control of concentrations between undertakings (the EC Merger Regulation) (OJ L 24, 29.1.2004, p. 1).

(24)  Directive (EU) 2016/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 July 2016 concerning measures for a high common level of security of network and information systems across the Union (OJ L 194, 19.7.2016, p. 1).


ANNEX

A.   ‘ General

1.

This Annex aims at specifying the methodology for identifying and calculating the ‘active end_users’ and the ‘active business_users’ for each core_platform_service listed in Article 2, point (2). It provides a reference to enable an undertaking to assess whether its core_platform_services meet the quantitative thresholds set out in Article 3(2), point (b) and would therefore be presumed to meet the requirement in Article 3(1), point (b). Such reference will therefore equally be of relevance to any broader assessment under Article 3(8). It is the responsibility of the undertaking to come to the best approximation possible in line with the common principles and specific methodology set out in this Annex. Nothing in this Annex precludes the Commission, within the time limits laid down in the relevant provisions of this Regulation, from requiring the undertaking providing core_platform_services to provide any information necessary to identify and calculate the ‘active end_users’ and the ‘active business_users’. Nothing in this Annex should constitute a legal basis for tracking users. The methodology contained in this Annex is also without prejudice to any of the obligations laid down in this Regulation, notably in Article 3(3) and (8) and Article 13(3). In particular, the required compliance with Article 13(3) also means identifying and calculating ‘active end_users’ and ‘active business_users’ based either on a precise measurement or on the best approximation available, in line with the actual identification and calculation capacities that the undertaking providing core_platform_services possesses at the relevant point in time. Those measurements or the best approximation available shall be consistent with, and include, those reported under Article 15.

2.

Article 2, points (20) and (21) set out the definitions of ‘ end_user’ and ‘ business_user’, which are common to all core_platform_services.

3.

In order to identify and calculate the number of ‘active end_users’ and ‘active business_users’, this Annex refers to the concept of ‘unique users’. The concept of ‘unique users’ encompasses ‘active end_users’ and ‘active business_users’ counted only once, for the relevant core_platform_service, over the course of a specified time period (i.e. month in case of ‘active end_users’ and year in case of ‘active business_users’), no matter how many times they engaged with the relevant core_platform_service over that period. This is without prejudice to the fact that the same natural or legal person can simultaneously constitute an ‘active end_user’ or an ‘active business_user’ for different core_platform_services.

B.   ‘Active end_users’

1.

The number of ‘unique users’ as regards ‘active end_users’ shall be identified according to the most accurate metric reported by the undertaking providing any of the core_platform_services, specifically:

a.

It is considered that collecting data about the use of core_platform_services from signed-in or logged-in environments would prima facie present the lowest risk of duplication, for example in relation to user behaviour across devices or platforms. Hence, the undertaking shall submit aggregate anonymized data on the number of unique end_users per respective core_platform_service based on signed-in or logged-in environments, if such data exists.

b.

In the case of core_platform_services which are also accessed by end_users outside signed-in or logged-in environments, the undertaking shall additionally submit aggregate anonymized data on the number of unique end_users of the respective core_platform_service based on an alternate metric capturing also end_users outside signed-in or logged-in environments, such as internet protocol addresses, cookie identifiers or other identifiers such as radio frequency identification tags, provided that those addresses or identifiers are objectively necessary for the provision of the core_platform_services.

2.

The number of ‘monthly active end_users’ is based on the average number of monthly active end_users throughout the largest part of the financial year. The notion ‘the largest part of the financial year’ is intended to allow an undertaking providing core_platform_services to discount outlier figures in a given year. Outlier figures inherently mean figures that fall significantly outside the normal and foreseeable figures. An unforeseen peak or drop in user engagement that occurred during a single month of the financial year is an example of what could constitute such outlier figures. Figures related to annually recurring occurrences, such as annual sales promotions, are not outlier figures.

C.   ‘Active business_users’

The number of ‘unique users’ as regards ‘active business_users’ is to be determined, where applicable, at the account level with each distinct business account associated with the use of a core_platform_service provided by the undertaking constituting one unique business_user of that respective core_platform_service. If the notion of ‘business account’ does not apply to a given core_platform_service, the relevant undertaking providing core_platform_services shall determine the number of unique business_users by referring to the relevant undertaking.

D.   ‘ Submission_of_information

1.

The undertaking submitting to the Commission pursuant to Article 3(3) information concerning the number of active end_users and active business_users per core_platform_service shall be responsible for ensuring the completeness and accuracy of that information. In that regard:

a.

The undertaking shall be responsible for submitting data for a respective core_platform_service that avoids under-counting and over-counting the number of active end_users and active business_users (for example, where users access the core_platform_services across different platforms or devices).

b.

The undertaking shall be responsible for providing precise and succinct explanations about the methodology used to arrive at the information and for any risk of under-counting or over-counting of the number of active end_users and active business_users for a respective core_platform_service and for the solutions adopted to address that risk.

c.

The undertaking shall provide data that is based on an alternative metric when the Commission has concerns about the accuracy of data provided by the undertaking providing core_platform_services.

2.

For the purpose of calculating the number of ‘active end_users’ and ‘active business_users’:

a.

The undertaking providing core_platform_service(s) shall not identify core_platform_services that belong to the same category of core_platform_services pursuant to Article 2, point (2) as distinct mainly on the basis that they are provided using different domain names, whether country code top-level domains (ccTLDs) or generic top-level domains (gTLDs), or any geographic attributes.

b.

The undertaking providing core_platform_service(s) shall consider as distinct core_platform_services those core_platform_services, which are used for different purposes by either their end_users or their business_users, or both, even if their end_users or business_users may be the same and even if they belong to the same category of core_platform_services pursuant to Article 2, point (2).

c.

The undertaking providing core_platform_service(s) shall consider as distinct core_platform_services those services which the relevant undertaking offers in an integrated way, but which:

(i)

do not belong to the same category of core_platform_services pursuant to Article 2, point (2); or

(ii)

are used for different purposes by either their end_users or their business_users, or both, even if their end_users and business_users may be the same and even if they belong to the same category of core_platform_services pursuant to Article 2, point (2).

E.   ‘ Specific_definitions

The table below sets out specific definitions of ‘active end_users’ and ‘active business_users’ for each core_platform_service.

Core platform services

Active end_users

Active business_users

Online intermediation services

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the online intermediation service at least once in the month for example through actively logging-in, making a query, clicking or scrolling or concluded a transaction through the online intermediation service at least once in the month.

Number of unique business_users who had at least one item listed in the online intermediation service during the whole year or concluded a transaction enabled by the online intermediation service during the year.

Online search engines

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the online_search_engine at least once in the month, for example through making a query.

Number of unique business_users with business websites (i.e. website used in commercial or professional capacity) indexed by or part of the index of the online_search_engine during the year.

Online social networking services

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the online_social_networking_service at least once in the month, for example through actively logging-in, opening a page, scrolling, clicking, liking, making a query, posting or commenting.

Number of unique business_users who have a business listing or business account in the online_social_networking_service and have engaged in any way with the service at least once during the year, for example through actively logging-in, opening a page, scrolling, clicking, liking, making a query, posting, commenting or using its tools for businesses.

Video-sharing platform services

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the video-sharing_platform_service at least once in the month, for example through playing a segment of audiovisual content, making a query or uploading a piece of audiovisual content, notably including user-generated videos.

Number of unique business_users who provided at least one piece of audiovisual content uploaded or played on the video-sharing_platform_service during the year.

Number-independent interpersonal communication services

Number of unique end_users who initiated or participated in any way in a communication through the number-independent interpersonal communication service at least once in the month.

Number of unique business_users who used a business account or otherwise initiated or participated in any way in a communication through the number-independent interpersonal communication service to communicate directly with an end_user at least once during the year.

Operating systems

Number of unique end_users who utilised a device with the operating_system, which has been activated, updated or used at least once in the month.

Number of unique developers who published, updated or offered at least one software_application or software program using the programming language or any software development tools of, or running in any way on, the operating_system during the year.

Virtual assistant

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the virtual_assistant in any way at least once in the month, such as for example through activating it, asking a question, accessing a service through a command or controlling a smart home device.

Number of unique developers who offered at least one virtual_assistant software_application or a functionality to make an existing software_application accessible through the virtual_assistant during the year.

Web browsers

Number of unique end_users who engaged with the web_browser at least once in the month, for example through inserting a query or website address in the URL line of the web_browser.

Number of unique business_users whose business websites (i.e. website used in commercial or professional capacity) have been accessed via the web_browser at least once during the year or who offered a plug-in, extension or add-ons used on the web_browser during the year.

Cloud computing services

Number of unique end_users who engaged with any cloud_computing_services from the relevant provider of cloud_computing_services at least once in the month, in return for any type of remuneration, regardless of whether this remuneration occurs in the same month.

Number of unique business_users who provided any cloud_computing_services hosted in the cloud infrastructure of the relevant provider of cloud_computing_services during the year.

Online advertising services

For proprietary sales of advertising space:

Number of unique end_users who were exposed to an advertisement impression at least once in the month.

For advertising intermediation services (including advertising networks, advertising exchanges and any other advertising intermediation services):

Number of unique end_users who were exposed to an advertisement impression which triggered the advertising intermediation service at least once in the month.

For proprietary sales of advertising space:

Number of unique advertisers who had at least one advertisement impression displayed during the year.

For advertising intermediation services (including advertising networks, advertising exchanges and any other advertising intermediation services):

Number of unique business_users (including advertisers, publishers or other intermediators) who interacted via or were served by the advertising intermediation service during the year.



whereas









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