Booking.com: DMA and DSA Regulations and Gatekeeper Power

The article analyzes the regulatory evolution of the Booking.com platform, which has been designated as a Very Large Online Platform (VLOP) under the DSA and a gatekeeper under the DMA. The author points to the transition from ex post control to systemic ex ante oversight, meaning that obligations are imposed on entities of immense scale even before specific abuses occur. The text explains the difference between the DSA (focused on safety and systemic risks) and the DMA (concentrating on fair competition). A key concept is 'gateway power'—control over the interface connecting companies with customers, which allows the platform to organize offer visibility and shape market access conditions without needing to own physical assets.