26 Mar EU embarks on probes into Apple, Meta and Alphabet
Eu launched probes into Apple, Alphabet and Meta
in the first use of a landmark new law
designed to rein in Big Tech’s market power
The European Commission announced official inquiries whether Apple and Google owner Alphabet
were unduly favouring their own app sotres,
as well as Facebook owner Meta’s use of personal data for advertising
The probes fall under the Digital Markets Act
which is designed to tackle the dominance of so-called diginal gatekeppers – the biggest online platforms –
and came into effect this month.
If found guilty of non-compliance, comapnies face fines that could amount to up to 10% of global turnover.
It’s emblematic of what the DMA is supposed to deliver when it comes to choice for consumers
The legislation requires companies to allow app developers
to “steer” users to products beyond their own platforms without charging them for doing so.
It also states that platforms offering rankced search results must treat the listing of third-party services
in a “fair and non-discriminatory” manner
The commission said it was concerned that Apple and Alphabet had imposed “restrictions and limitations”
that constrained developers’ ability to promote other services.
It added that it was assessing services including Google Shopping and Google Flights
over whether the company was giving preference to these in its search results
아울러 유럽집행위원회는 애플이 meeting it sobligations to allow users “to easily uninstall any software application” on its iOS operating system and change default settings, browsers and search engines 하는지도 보고 있다고 함.
메타에 대해서도 proceeding을 open 했는데, wehther the group’s new “pay or consent” subscription model complied with the DMA requirement for gatekeepers to obtain users’ agreement to “combine or cross0-use their personal data” such as for advertising purposes.
The moves come after the commission hit Apple with a €1.8bn finie for preventing music streaming apps from informing users about cheaper deals. The US Department of Justice last week announced it was suing Apple for alledgely using its power in the smarphone sector to squeeze competition. Brussles hopes to finalise its probes in one year.
Tech companies pushed back against suggestiions of wrongdoing.
No Comments