Brussels, October 9, 2025 – The European Commission (EC) and the European Data Protection Board (EDPB) have launched a public consultation on draft guidelines explaining the interplay between Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).
The draft guidelines aim to help companies interpret and apply the DMA and GDPR consistently, particularly in areas where both frameworks converge. These include data combination, portability, and app distribution rules, where DMA obligations often involve processing personal data under the GDPR.
The DMA allows alternative app stores and distribution channels for gatekeepers, provided that any restrictions or safeguards applied are necessary, proportionate, and GDPR-compliant.
According to the Commission and the EDPB, the initiative seeks to improve legal certainty and ensure coherence between the two regimes, while respecting the distinct responsibilities of each body.
The collaboration began in September 2024 and is intended to ensure that data protection and digital market obligations work together to maintain effective enforcement and compliance within the EU.
Consultation Timeline
Stakeholders have until December 4 to submit comments on the draft. All responses will be published on the EDPB and DMA websites, and final guidelines are expected to be adopted in 2026.
Source: https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/mex_25_2340
