01:30 PM EDT, 09/23/2025 (MT Newswires) -- (Updates with Booking.com comment in final two paragraphs.)

The EU is set to examine whether Microsoft ( MSFT ) , Apple ( AAPL ) , Alphabet's (GOOG) Google and Booking Holdings ( BKNG ) are doing enough to combat online financial fraud, the Financial Times reported Tuesday.

Regulators will send formal requests for information under the bloc's Digital Services Act to assess how the companies handle fake applications in their app stores, fake search results and fake accommodation listings, the report said, citing the EU's tech chief, Henna Virkkunen.

"Today, the Commission has sent requests for information under the DSA to Apple ( AAPL ), Booking, Microsoft ( MSFT ) and Google ( GOOG ) on how these platforms manage risks related to financial scams," a European Commission spokesperson said in an emailed statement to MT Newswires.

"App stores could enable scammers to create fake apps posing as legitimate banking or investment apps. On search engines and e-commerce platforms, scammers could publish links and ads that lead to fraudulent websites. The DSA obliges these platforms to diligently assess these risks to protect consumers in the EU," the spokesperson added.

"At Booking.com, we support the objectives of the Digital Services Act and have long been advocates for online safety and consumer protection," a Booking.com spokesperson said in an emailed statement. "Our 2023 and 2024 DSA systemic risk assessments validate that the design and functioning of Booking.com do not pose significant systemic risks to EU citizens. This is because of the nature of our service and our history of continuously assessing and mitigating any potential risks to society,"

"The results of this most recent risk assessment have informed our ongoing efforts to ensure the continued safety and integrity of our platform, and we are making every effort to address any outstanding questions before the close of the current audit period," the spokesperson said.

Microsoft ( MSFT ), Apple ( AAPL ) and Google ( GOOG ) did not immediately respond to requests for comment from MT Newswires.

(Market Chatter news is derived from conversations with market professionals globally. This information is believed to be from reliable sources but may include rumor and speculation. Accuracy is not guaranteed.)

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