EU could force Apple to share user data with competitors
Major tech companies like Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon may be required to share customer data with smaller rivals, should the European Union's Digital Services Act pass.
The Digital Services Act is designed to curb anticompetitive behavior by major tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. It would mark the first significant overhaul to the EU's standards for regulating the internet in two decades.
One proposed measure would be to force larger companies to share customer data with their smaller competitors.
According to the Financial Times, the draft features a line that states tech giants "shall not use data collected on the platform... for [their] own commercial activities... unless they [make it] accessible to business users active in the same commercial activities."
It's anticipated that many of the large companies will push back against the Digital Services Act. Google has gone on record stating that it believes the existing regulatory rules should be modernized, instead of providing entirely new frameworks.
They also claim that regulators are overestimating the power companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple have in the digital market. According to Google, the digital ecosystem is "extremely diverse and evolving rapidly."
Regulators in Europe are drawing up a "blacklist" of activities that technology companies would be required to stop, as well as a "sliding scale" of penalties for non-compliance. Some of the antitrust rules include policies that prevent users from switching platforms or systems that force users to rely on a single service.
The Digital Services Act may also require companies to actively curb users and advertisers from spreading false information and hate speech on services like Facebook and Twitter.
The Digital Services Act is designed to curb anticompetitive behavior by major tech companies like Apple, Amazon, Facebook, and Google. It would mark the first significant overhaul to the EU's standards for regulating the internet in two decades.
One proposed measure would be to force larger companies to share customer data with their smaller competitors.
According to the Financial Times, the draft features a line that states tech giants "shall not use data collected on the platform... for [their] own commercial activities... unless they [make it] accessible to business users active in the same commercial activities."
It's anticipated that many of the large companies will push back against the Digital Services Act. Google has gone on record stating that it believes the existing regulatory rules should be modernized, instead of providing entirely new frameworks.
They also claim that regulators are overestimating the power companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Apple have in the digital market. According to Google, the digital ecosystem is "extremely diverse and evolving rapidly."
Regulators in Europe are drawing up a "blacklist" of activities that technology companies would be required to stop, as well as a "sliding scale" of penalties for non-compliance. Some of the antitrust rules include policies that prevent users from switching platforms or systems that force users to rely on a single service.
The Digital Services Act may also require companies to actively curb users and advertisers from spreading false information and hate speech on services like Facebook and Twitter.
Comments
What if I don't want my data shared with 'smaller competitors'?
This is light on details but I’m not sure how this benefits or protects users.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208650 Info about your Apple ID
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205223 Info about your Apple Advertising ID
That's a good starting point. Don't want to overwhelm you. All of the above is governed by Apple's Privacy Policy, which goes into greater detail about the data they collect.
https://www.apple.com/legal/privacy/en-ww/ Apple Privacy Policy.
So that I'm abundantly clear, my post is not a criticism of Apple or any of it's data collection practices. It is a refutation of your incorrect assumption about what Apple doesn't collect. They collect a ton of data. They tell you they collect a ton of data.
On topic: Considering the amount and types of user data collected by these companies, I'd be concerned about what specifically has to be shared (if this passes) with these smaller companies. Who's vetting what the smaller companies do with that information? How often? Consequences? All kinds of questions.
"We don't have these industries, so it's okay to beat up on them."
These commissioners are waaayyy too busy trying to regulate businesses they don't have - maybe they ought to concentrate on stuff they can do within their own borders - like a unified response to China.
But outside of that you're missing what the EU is saying about the App Store and other Apple services without specifically calling it out. One likely outcome would be that first-party Apple apps such as Apple Maps, Mail, Pages, Photos, Safari and three dozen others would be banned from pre-installation on EU iPhones so that buyers can make their own choices from a wider selection that includes 3rd party services.
I believe the EU regulator knows exactly what they’re doing=squeeze US big tech they can’t compete with.
Once upon a time there was a little red hen who scratched about the barnyard until she uncovered some grains of wheat.
She called her neighbors and said, “If we plant this wheat we shall have bread to eat. Who will help me plant it?”
“Not I”, said the cow.
“Not I”, said the duck.
“Not I”, said the pig.
“Not I”, said the goose.
“Then I will”, said the little red hen and she did.
The wheat grew tall and rippened into golden grain.
“Who will help me reap my wheat?’, asked the little red hen.
“Not I”, said the duck.
“Out of my classification”, said the pig.
“I’d lose my seniority”, said the cow.
“I’d lose my unemployment compensation”, said the goose.
“Then I will”, said the little red hen, and she did.
At last it came time to bake the bread. “Who will help me bake bread?”, asked the little red hen. “Oh that would be overtime for me.”, said the cow.
“I’d lose my welfare benefits.”, said the duck.
“I’m a dropout and never learned how.”, said the pig.
“Well, if I’m to be the only helper that’s discrimination.” said the goose.
“Then I will .” said the little red hen.
She baked five loaves and held them up for her neighbors to see. They all wanted some. And in fact demanded a share. But the little red hen said “No. I can eat the five loaves myself.”
“Excess profits!” cried the cow.
“Capitalist leech!”, screamed the duck.
“I demand equal rights!”, yelled the goose.
And the pig just grunted.
And they painted “Unfair” picket signs and marched round and round the little red hen shouting obscenities.
When the government agent came he said to the little red hen, “You must not be greedy.”
“But I earned the bread!” said the little red hen.
“Exactly!” said the agent, “That’s the wonderful free enterprise system. Anyone in the barnyard can earn as much as he wants, but under our modern government regulations the productive workers must divide their product with the idle.”
And they lived happily ever after. Including the little red hen. Who smiled and clucked, “I am grateful, I am grateful.” But her neighbors wondered why she never again baked anymore bread.