Alphabet's (GOOGL, GOOG) Google, Amazon (AMZN), Apple (AAPL) and Samsung's smart televisions and virtual assistants are facing a call from European broadcasters to be subject to the European Union's toughest tech rules, Reuters reported Monday, citing a letter to EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera.

In the letter, the Association of Commercial Television and Video on Demand Services in Europe, whose members include Paramount Skydance's (PSKY) Paramount+, Comcast's (CMCSA) NBCUniversal, Walt Disney (DIS) and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), said smart TV operating systems such as Android TV, Amazon Fire OS and Samsung's Tizen OS should be designated as 'gatekeepers' under the Digital Markets Act, according to Reuters.

Broadcasters also flagged concerns about virtual assistants, including Alexa and Siri, saying the lack of designation under the DMA creates a regulatory gap that could allow them to become "de facto gatekeepers," the report said.

The group also urged the European Commission to apply the rules based on qualitative criteria, even if platforms fall below standard thresholds for user numbers or market value, Reuters reported.

Google, Amazon, Apple and Samsung did not immediately respond to MT Newswires' requests for comment.

(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.)