The European Union levied a €500 million fine against Apple for restricting app developers from directing users to cheaper, external subscription options and a €200 million fine against Meta for its “consent or pay” data usage model. These penalties, the first under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, target practices deemed anti-competitive. Both companies are expected to appeal. The fines stem from investigations into violations of the DMA’s regulations designed to ensure fair competition among large tech companies.
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The EU’s commitment to enforcing its Digital Services Act (DSA), Digital Markets Act (DMA), and AI Act faces significant pressure from the U.S., with Vice President Vance threatening NATO withdrawal if the regulations are strictly applied. Concerns exist that this pressure is leading to delays in enforcing these laws, including potential fines against companies like X (formerly Twitter). Von der Leyen’s statement reaffirms the EU’s intention to enforce its digital rules regardless of political pressure or company ownership. This determination follows a recent investigation into X, with potential multi-billion dollar fines under consideration.
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A US judge has ruled that Google maintains illegal online advertising monopolies. This decision throws a significant wrench into the gears of the tech giant’s operations, raising questions about the future of online advertising and the power wielded by Big Tech.
The sheer scale of Google’s dominance in the online advertising market is staggering. It’s not simply a matter of being the biggest player; the ruling suggests that Google has actively employed anti-competitive practices to maintain its stranglehold. This is the key aspect of the judge’s finding: it’s not just about success, but about the methods used to achieve and maintain that success.… Continue reading
The Japan Fair Trade Commission issued a cease-and-desist order to Google for violating Japanese anti-monopoly law. This unprecedented action targets Google’s practice of requiring pre-installation of its apps on Android phones, hindering competition from rival search engines. This marks the first such order against a GAFAM company in Japan. The commission cited Google’s actions as creating significant barriers to entry for competitors in the Android mobile market.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood