Europe's Digital Markets Act Takes a Hammer to Big Tech
55 years, 2 months ago

Europe's Digital Markets Act Takes a Hammer to Big Tech

Wired  

If America’s antitrust motto is “break up Big Tech,” Europe now has its own variation: “Don't break them up, break them open.” That was the advice Cédric O, France’s digital economy minister and a central figure in drafting the EU’s new Digital Markets Act, said stuck with him as he negotiated radical new rules that aim to tackle the power of Big Tech in Europe. According to members of the European Parliament, this means Apple will be made to allow iPhone users to download apps from rival app stores, and WhatsApp will have to let people use its app to communicate with others using rival messengers. “It's not up to the Commission anymore to prove to them that they have unfair business models,” says MEP Andreas Schwab, lead negotiator for the DMA. “Interoperability would cement the monopoly of the top dogs, instead of breaking it up,” says Julia Weiss, spokesperson for the German messaging app Threema, which charges its more than 10 million users a monthly or yearly fee.

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History of this topic

WhatsApp faces EU tech rules after reaching very large platform status
1 month ago

WhatsApp faces EU tech rules after reaching very large platform status

The Hindu  

WhatsApp has hit a user criterion set out in landmark EU tech rules, the unit owned by Meta Platforms said, meaning it is required to do more to tackle online illegal and harmful content. Messaging platform WhatsApp in a February 14 filing said it had about 46.8 million average monthly active users in the 27-country European Union in the six …

EU reassessing fines against Google, Apple and other US tech firms because of Trump 2.0
2 months, 1 week ago

EU reassessing fines against Google, Apple and other US tech firms because of Trump 2.0

Firstpost  

The EU has led the way in regulating Big Tech, but the delay in these rulings highlights how much of the process is shaped by politics. Some of the key players who went after Big Tech, are nearing the end of their terms, with some seeking re-election As the US prepares for potential political changes, Big Tech companies are positioning …

Signal opposes EU Chat Control law over message scanning
9 months ago

Signal opposes EU Chat Control law over message scanning

The Hindu  

The encrypted-messaging app Signal has argued against the EU’s proposal in the Chat Control law to scan messages on encrypted apps. Signal president Meredith Whittaker posted an official statement from the company on X against the bill saying “scanning is the same old surveillance with new branding” and that this “undermines encryption” while “creating significant vulnerabilities.” The Chat Control law …

EU opens competition investigations into Apple, Google and Meta
11 months, 3 weeks ago

EU opens competition investigations into Apple, Google and Meta

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Apple, Google parent firm Alphabet, and Meta – the …

Europe’s Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here’s what that will look like
1 year ago

Europe’s Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here’s what that will look like

Associated Press  

LONDON — Europeans scrolling their phones and computers this week will get new choices for default browsers and search engines, where to download iPhone apps and how their personal online data is used. They’re part of changes required under the Digital Markets Act, a set of European Union regulations that six tech companies classed as “gatekeepers” — Amazon, Apple, Google …

Europe's Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here's what that will look like
1 year ago

Europe's Digital Markets Act is forcing tech giants to make changes. Here's what that will look like

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. They're part of changes required under the Digital …

Should new tech rules apply to Microsoft's Bing, Apple's iMessage, EU asks
1 year, 5 months ago

Should new tech rules apply to Microsoft's Bing, Apple's iMessage, EU asks

The Hindu  

EU antitrust regulators are asking Microsoft's users and rivals whether Bing should comply with new tough tech rules and also whether that should be the case for Apple's iMessage, people familiar with the matter said on Monday. The European Commission in September opened investigations to assess whether Microsoft's Bing, Edge and Microsoft Advertising as well as Apple's iMessage should be …

EU targets Apple, Amazon, Meta and other Big Tech in next phase of digital crackdown
1 year, 6 months ago

EU targets Apple, Amazon, Meta and other Big Tech in next phase of digital crackdown

Associated Press  

LONDON — Six Big Tech companies including Amazon, Apple and Microsoft faced fresh pressure Wednesday from the European Union, which moved to counter their digital dominance with far-reaching rules aimed at giving users more choices and making competition fairer. Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta and TikTok parent ByteDance also were classified as online “gatekeepers” subject to the strictest requirements …

These are the six Big Tech companies the EU will target with its digital crackdown
1 year, 6 months ago

These are the six Big Tech companies the EU will target with its digital crackdown

LA Times  

In updating its digital rulebook, the European Union aims to give users more choices and make competition fairer. Google parent Alphabet, Facebook owner Meta and TikTok parent ByteDance also were classified as online “gatekeepers” subject to the strictest requirements of the 27-nation EU’s Digital Markets Act, which amounts to a list of do’s and don’ts seeking to prevent tech giants …

Europe has led the global charge against big tech. But does it need a new approach?
1 year, 10 months ago

Europe has led the global charge against big tech. But does it need a new approach?

Live Mint  

In the past couple of decades, Europe and America have taken different paths in how they regulate large firms. Perhaps surprisingly, Europe took on even the mighty tech giants, imposing multi-billion-euro fines on the likes of Google and, at times, forcing changes to tech business models. Ms Vestager’s regulatory method is premised on the idea that consumer tech markets tend …

Explained | What is the E.U. Digital Markets Act?
2 years, 4 months ago

Explained | What is the E.U. Digital Markets Act?

The Hindu  

The story so far: The Digital Markets Act entered into force in the European Union on November 1, seven months after it was agreed for by the European Parliament in March this year. In addition to managing a ‘core platform service’, a company must have accrued an annual turnover of at least €7.5 billion in each of the last three …

Europe Prepares to Rewrite the Rules of the Internet
2 years, 4 months ago

Europe Prepares to Rewrite the Rules of the Internet

Wired  

Next week, a law takes effect that will change the internet forever—and make it much more difficult to be a tech giant. Last month, he became director of a new EU office in San Francisco, established in part to explain the law’s consequences to Big Tech companies. “If you have an iPhone, you should be able to download apps not …

EU Passes New Law, Demands Better Support From Google, Facebook To Police Content
2 years, 8 months ago

EU Passes New Law, Demands Better Support From Google, Facebook To Police Content

News 18  

BRUSSELS: EU lawmakers gave the thumbs up on Tuesday to landmark rules to rein in the power of tech giants such as Alphabet unit Google, Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Microsoft, but enforcing them could be an issue due to regulators' limited resources. In addition to the rules known as the Digital Markets Act, lawmakers also approved the Digital Services Act, …

WhatsApp Given Time Till July To Comply with EU Consumer Laws
2 years, 9 months ago

WhatsApp Given Time Till July To Comply with EU Consumer Laws

News 18  

BRUSSELS: Meta's WhatsApp has until July to show that a privacy policy update introduced in January complies with EU consumer law, the European Commission said on Wednesday, in a case prompted by complaints from consumer bodies across Europe. The European Consumer Organisation and the European Network of consumer authorities said WhatsApp had not explained the changes in plain and intelligible …

Europe agrees to sweeping new regulations for tech platforms
2 years, 11 months ago

Europe agrees to sweeping new regulations for tech platforms

CNN  

CNN — European policymakers have reached agreement on a sweeping package of new regulations for tech platforms that could mean big changes in oversight for everything from social media algorithms to digital advertising — and with potential ramifications worldwide. Together with the Digital Markets Act — a competition-focused bill intended to make dominant online platforms more open — the DSA …

EU agrees on new digital rules to rein in Big Tech dominance
2 years, 11 months ago

EU agrees on new digital rules to rein in Big Tech dominance

Associated Press  

BRUSSELS — The European Union set the stage for a stepped-up crackdown on big tech companies with an agreement on landmark digital rules to rein in online “gatekeepers” such as Google and Facebook parent Meta. “What we have been deciding about yesterday will start a new era in tech regulation,” the European Union’s lead lawmaker Andreas Schwab, said at a …

EU officials agree on sweeping new rules targeting Big Tech
2 years, 11 months ago

EU officials agree on sweeping new rules targeting Big Tech

CNN  

Washington European officials have reached agreement on a sweeping set of competition rules for Big Tech that could mark a global turning point for technology regulation. The proposed framework, known as the Digital Markets Act, could label large companies such as Facebook-parent Meta or Google as "gatekeepers," and subject them to new requirements and prohibitions. During negotiations late Thursday, European …

WhatsApp has until end of Feb to clarify privacy policy change, EU says
3 years, 1 month ago

WhatsApp has until end of Feb to clarify privacy policy change, EU says

The Hindu  

Facebook unit WhatsApp has been given until the end of February to explain changes to its privacy policy and whether this complies with EU consumer protection laws after complaints from consumer groups, the European Commission said on Thursday. The European Consumer Organisation and eight of its members took their grievances to the EU executive and the European network of consumer …

EU lawmakers agree on rules to target big tech- FT
3 years, 4 months ago

EU lawmakers agree on rules to target big tech- FT

The Hindu  

European Union lawmakers have reached a deal on how to target big tech companies, as part of a move to limit anti-competitive practices in the digital economy, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday. The rules would draw more companies than previously thought into the EU's planned Digital Markets Act, the newspaper said, adding that the EU plans to implement the …

EU tech rules should curb cloud computing providers
3 years, 4 months ago

EU tech rules should curb cloud computing providers

The Hindu  

Draft EU rules to curb the power of Amazon, Apple, Alphabet unit Google and Facebook should also tackle cloud computing services providers over potential anti-competitive practices, a study said on Tuesday. The report coincides with concerns that some EU lawmakers who are reviewing the Digital Markets Act proposed by EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager may be lenient towards cloud computing …

WhatsApp faces EU consumer complaint over privacy update
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp faces EU consumer complaint over privacy update

Associated Press  

LONDON — Facebook’s WhatsApp faces a complaint from European Union consumer groups who say the chat service has been unfairly pressuring users to accept a new privacy update in what it calls a breach of the bloc’s regulations. The European Consumer Organisation, or BEUC, filed a complaint Monday over the way WhatsApp has brought in changes to its terms of …

WhatsApp targeted in EU consumer complaints over privacy changes
3 years, 8 months ago

WhatsApp targeted in EU consumer complaints over privacy changes

The Hindu  

Facebook Inc’s WhatsApp on Monday faced a barrage of complaints by the European Consumer Organisation and others over a privacy policy update, which has prompted a global outcry and led some users to switch to rival apps Telegram and Signal. The European Consumer Organisation and eight of its members criticised the changes and filed complaints with the European Commission and …

Delft city council drops WhatsApp in protest of new terms of use
3 years, 10 months ago

Delft city council drops WhatsApp in protest of new terms of use

NL Times  

City council members in Delft have decided to stop using Facebook-owned messaging service WhatsApp as a means of communication between each other, Omroep West reported. The majority of council members voted in favor of a motion to stop using WhatsApp following a lengthy debate on the issue on Thursday. WhatsApp insists personal communication and data will be private, and that …

CCI Takes On Tech Behemoths: WhatsApp Policy Update And Antitrust Concerns
3 years, 11 months ago

CCI Takes On Tech Behemoths: WhatsApp Policy Update And Antitrust Concerns

Live Law  

Ever since WhatsApp notified its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy 2021 on 4 January 2021, it raised eyebrows throughout the world, the most notable being Tesla CEO Elon Musk's tweet encouraging users to switch to Signal. Placing reliance on Harshita Chawla v. WhatsApp Inc. 2020 SCC OnLine CCI 32, WhatsApp submitted that its 2021 update's implementation was postponed to …

An antitrust probe to safeguard the rights of our WhatsApp users
3 years, 11 months ago

An antitrust probe to safeguard the rights of our WhatsApp users

Live Mint  

The suo-moto order by the Competition Commission of India to launch an investigation into WhatsApp’s new privacy policy is a landmark and laudably assertive exercise of its statutory role as the guardian of consumer rights and unhindered competition in our market. By taking cognizance of the potential impact of WhatsApp’s policy on Indian consumers, the CCI has rightfully stood up …

EU countries agree joint stance ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks
4 years, 1 month ago

EU countries agree joint stance ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks

The Hindu  

EU countries on Wednesday agreed to take a joint position in forthcoming negotiations with EU lawmakers and the European Commission on planned privacy rules governing Facebook's WhatsApp and Microsoft's Skype, ending a three-year impasse. While EU lawmakers quickly agreed a joint stance, the countries had until now failed to find common ground because of disagreements over rules for cookies, consent …

EU nations unite ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks
4 years, 1 month ago

EU nations unite ahead of WhatsApp, Skype privacy talks

Al Jazeera  

European Union members’ decision to take a joint stance in the privacy talks represents the end of a three-year impasse. European Union countries on Wednesday agreed to take a joint position in forthcoming negotiations with EU lawmakers and the European Commission on planned privacy rules governing Facebook’s WhatsApp and Microsoft’s Skype, ending a three-year impasse. The European Commission proposed its …

Google, Facebook and WhatsApp to face tougher restrictions when tracking you online
8 years, 2 months ago

Google, Facebook and WhatsApp to face tougher restrictions when tracking you online

Wired  

Messaging apps are under fire from the European Commission to protect the privacy of individuals alexsl/iStock The European Commission has proposed new legislation to ensure the stronger privacy of individuals when it comes to using online messaging services including WhatsApp, iMessage and Gmail. Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality said the new strategy will “facilitate international data …

Facebook told to stop exploiting WhatsApp data during EU probe
8 years, 4 months ago

Facebook told to stop exploiting WhatsApp data during EU probe

Live Mint  

Paris/Luxembourg: European Union privacy chiefs said Facebook Inc. must stop processing user data from its WhatsApp messaging service while they are investigating the privacy policy changes the company announced in August. The Article 29 Working Party, made up of privacy chiefs from across the 28-nation EU, told Facebook it had “serious concerns” about the sharing of WhatsApp users’ data for …

WhatsApp privacy under threat as France and Germany push EU to allow states to break encryption
8 years, 6 months ago

WhatsApp privacy under threat as France and Germany push EU to allow states to break encryption

The Independent  

Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The two countries plan to ask the European Commission to force technology companies to limit the encryption …

Facebook-WhatsApp deal: EU antitrust finally approves the acquisition
10 years, 5 months ago

Facebook-WhatsApp deal: EU antitrust finally approves the acquisition

Firstpost  

The European Union’s antitrust authority says it has approved Facebook’s proposed $19 billion takeover of the messaging service WhatsApp. US regulators cleared the takeover in April, telling WhatsApp to stick to its current privacy practices after the merger, including not to use users’ personal data for targeted ads. Facebook runs its own mobile messaging service with its Messenger app but …

European Union questions Facebook-WhatsApp USD 19 bn deal
10 years, 6 months ago

European Union questions Facebook-WhatsApp USD 19 bn deal

India TV News  

London: In a bid to understand what separates a social network from a messaging application, European Union anti-trust officials have sent a detailed questionnaire to the competitors as well as customers of Facebook and WhatsApp. The move is part of the EU's formal review of the USD 19 billion acquisition of the popular mobile messaging service WhatsApp by the social …

EU seeks rivals' feedback on Facebook, WhatsApp deal
10 years, 6 months ago

EU seeks rivals' feedback on Facebook, WhatsApp deal

Firstpost  

EU antitrust regulators are asking Facebook’s rivals and telecoms operators whether the bid for WhatsApp will lead to price hikes and curb innovation. EU antitrust regulators are asking Facebook’s rivals and telecoms operators whether the world No.1 online social network’s proposed $19 billion bid for mobile messaging startup WhatsApp will lead to price hikes and curb innovation. “As a result …

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