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Apple and Amazon Under Investigation in Spain for Possible Anti-Competitive Practices
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DeepIn2U
macrumors G5
I thought Spanish guy was trying to say Apple who makes her own devices are restricting Amazon from selling it on their own stores I was like wait what??
frenchcamp49er
macrumors 6502a
I want to register a country. My first action will be suing Apple. Then I will unregister this country and live with some Dollars in ma pocket.
Funny how you have that ‘’1984’ ad, when it is clearly Apple that is the one with the Monopolistic App store and ‘Big Brother’ practices over user’s inability to choose different App stores, download and install any apps they want from where else they want.
boo freaking hoo if users choose to side load apps and/or jailbreak their own devices.
they/we do that because of Apple‘s wall gardened closed off system and restricting users to one single allowed App Store.
‘Steve Wozniak was right to leave Apple when Steve Jobs wanted a closed system (mostly this on iOS devices, luckily MacOS is far more open).
Appe are full on doublespeak when they are for ‘user privacy’ while Macs/Macbooks with MacOS are here plain as day far more open.
the whole “because there are more iPhones than Macs” argument is BS, we can also say Macs have been around for over 35 years and why is Apple so concerned about “privacy and security over people‘s freedom to choose”?
The answer is plain and simple.
‘Apple is more concerned about the protection of it’s iOS App Store cash cow, NOT user’s protection.
otherwise Apple could simply have made the tools to give users control over their device like they do MacOS.
Apple fanboys think and believe Apple can do no wrong. They’ve been taken in by Apple‘s BS marketing (which is admittedly very good, I fell for it for nearly 10 years)
This shouldn’t be about siding with Corporations or governments, it ought to be about siding with users/consumers/people.
It always has been.
User’s freedom to choose and control of their devices >>>>>Corporate Monopolies.
Apple in the end is more about protecting their cash cow iOS App store, limiting user’s ability to install whatever apps they want, from where else they want, by restricting them to one single and only allowed App Store....all this under the guise of “security, privacy and quality control”
All the while having Macs/Macbooks with an open MacOS for over 35 years that actually gives users the tools and control to do their own privacy and security.
Apple is becoming their famous ’1984’ add.
Apple is the ‘big brother’
Solomani
macrumors 601
Spain: We are broke. Apple and Google, we are going to fine you.... for something something monopolistic something!
Apple and Google: Here's 5 million euros. Now please go away.
Spain: Yes, two wonderful examples of American tech innovation! We are so glad to have them here.
When i hear the word "investigation" and the word "anti-competitive", why do i always get the word "APPLE"
Other companies do that do.. Go after then for a while.
Other companies do that do.. Go after then for a while.
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
Solomani
macrumors 601
They don't go after other companies. The robbers only go after the successful, cash-loaded ones. Which usually means Apple.
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
I clearly ruffled a few feathers, but the fact is Spain has one of the highest unemployment rates across Europe.
They also have one of the most anti-competitive practices in terms of employment that I've ever known, and it's brought 1000's of businesses down to their knees, all for the sake of artificially pumping up unemployment numbers.
The last time I checked, unemployment stood at around 18% which is insanely high. But that doesn't paint the true story. A significant number of "employed" people are under a furlough scheme since this pandemic started. The last count I saw was around 25% under this scheme, so based on this, unemployment stands at about 38.5%.
Do you start to see the issue?
Under this scheme, businesses are not allowed to lay-off workers until after a specific period when the furlough scheme ends (unless they want to pay huge fines and essentially repay the government for the payments made to that worker), and the government continues to extend the scheme on and on, thus artificially boosting employment figures.
In the meantime, businesses have no choice but to pay social security for people who are not technically working for them, and in many cases, cannot bring those people back as due to the pandemic have reduced massively in size.
While it's a loss to the business paying social security, it's a much smaller loss than paying them their full salary for a job that simply isn't there.
The result is many people sat at home receiving a wage for doing nothing, but counting as employed.
The government and any smart person knows this is a bubble on the brink of bursting and without money and is utterly unsustainable.
In the meantime, black (undeclared), money jobs are on the rise and while there is a push from many to take cash payments, the government is also desperately trying to stamp that out and enforce electronic payments to reduce tax evasion. Where I live, the entire service sector is based on black money with most people that I know in the industry, getting paid partly black, and a partly white (declared) income.
People are getting desperate, (I put out a job application for a junior position and within 3 days, received over 400 applications), and so is the government.
Spain has never been hot on anti-competitive practices so why suddenly now? They need the cash flow.....big time!
I truly love Spain with all my heart. It's a beautiful country, full of amazing people, I speak the language fluently, my child was born here, and I have lived here for more than half of my adult life. But let's not kid each other. Spain is broke, with an inept government, corruption is rife and growing and things are not looking bright.
I also want to add that just prior to the pandemic, I would have said the opposite. Spain's future looked bright, but this pandemic has brought this country to its knees. And finally, I am aware that other countries are the same, if not worse, but the focus is on Spain hence my arguments.
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
Spain doesn't exactly have a track record for going after anti-competitive practices.
In fact, their latest government update has drawn huge criticism by forcing all utility consumers to a timed tariff. This means electric prices have skyrocketed in the day and in the evenings when people get home.
Blog - Energy Nordic
Stay up to date with the energy trends in Spain. ¿Thinking in moving to Spain? Check it out! Solar Energy, Self-consumption, Energy Supply...
energynordic.com
Whereas before, there was competition between small providers, this is now gone. Yeah. They care.
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
It's not an opinion. It's fact.
2020 Corruption Perceptions Index - Explore Spain’s results
How does Spain measure up in the 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index?
www.transparency.org
Spain has in fact dropped a number of places in the corruption index, and more than likely will further drop following 2021. The pandemic has spurred corruption in many places from tax to employment and more.
Having said that, I think the UK is unbelievably corrupt at government level (I have dipped in and out of politics through family members and the horror stories are off the scale). It's a pure fallacy to believe the UK is some knight in shining armour after some of the things I've seen!
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
Perhaps, but one that actually has to deal with the daily bureaucracy that Spain's authorities have to offer...
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
The CNMC protects the consumer so much that they've clearly done nothing to stop electric companies and the government hurting the consumer:
La nueva factura de la luz | CNMC
1. La nueva factura de la luz. Nociones básicas Nociones básicas
This is a prime example of why these entities claim to be "independent", but work closely with the companies and government bodies.
This new tariff for example has the capacity to cause deaths throughout Spain. How do you ask? Simple.
A vulnerable, low-income person living in an apartment block in Madrid for example will no longer use their airconditioning in the day to keep them cool as the cost of running the aircon in the day will become prohibitively high. I get the feeling you are Spanish, (and I have lived in Madrid for some time), so we both know the temperatures in Madrid sky-rocket. (Currently forecast for 38-39C this coming weekend).
When this happens, heat stroke becomes a huge factor in deaths for the elderly and vulnerable.
Now, come winter, the same will apply but with heating. Madrid gets very cold (snow is not unusual in January), so once again, low-income vulnerable individuals will avoid putting on heating to save pennies and then illnesses and deaths set in.
I know of people who are now waiting until midnight to turn on washing machines and domestic appliances to save pennies!!!!
So once again, tell me how the CNMC is protecting the consumer if they can't even get domestic utilities done correctly?
In a word, it's codswallop.
Thank god we have apple to bleed in order to fix the situation. The couple of million € they’ll be fined with will feed us during the winter if spent wisely.🙂
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
But as you are aware, this is just one of many exercises that'll be carried out to generate revenue to pay back the debt it'll likely never return back in full (currently at 120% of GDP), which is completely unsustainable.
And remember one thing, it's the people that suffer. Not the fat-cat government leaders at the top.
(ETA, I fixed the debt figure. It was another point higher...shocking).
An article from earlier in the year when it was "only" 117.1%.
Spain’s debt reaches highest level in more than a century | Euractiv
Spain increased its debt in 2020 by €112,438 million – almost the equivalent of the annual cost of pensions in the country – due to the heavy impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
www.euractiv.com
I care about Spain, but the leaders are running it into the ground. The people are in for tough times. Just watch and wait for the next recession to take hold and believe me, it'll be tough.
I’d say your argument that the CNMC is doing this to alleviate the situation isn’t very bright, either. Just to return the compliment.Sarcasm is the lowest form of wit.
But as you are aware, this is just one of many exercises that'll be carried out to generate revenue to pay back the debt it'll likely never return back in full (currently at 120% of GDP), which is completely unsustainable.
And remember one thing, it's the people that suffer. Not the fat-cat government leaders at the top.
(ETA, I fixed the debt figure. It was another point higher...shocking).
An article from earlier in the year when it was "only" 117.1%.
Spain’s debt reaches highest level in more than a century | Euractiv
Spain increased its debt in 2020 by €112,438 million – almost the equivalent of the annual cost of pensions in the country – due to the heavy impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
I care about Spain, but the leaders are running it into the ground. The people are in for tough times. Just watch and wait for the next recession to take hold and believe me, it'll be tough.
Are we going through a rough time? Yes.
Is the apple investigation a way to solve this? No. And both are completely unrelated. The fine apple could get is less than a rounding error of our GDP.
beanbaguk
macrumors 65816
I never said once the Apple investigation will resolve this. You put those words in my mouth as you were clearly aggrieved by my argument regarding the CNMC, (which I believe is about as independent as a child from its guardians), and the fact that I factually stated Spain is going through more than a rough time.
I am truly worried about my friends, their businesses, and what could happen over the coming years. (Believe me, I know how bad things are. I'm right in the middle of it). Sadly, none of this will be resolved in our lifetimes.
While the fine Apple could get would be little more than a rounding error, it's one of a plethora of ways that Hacienda and other government agencies are pursuing to get money wherever they can.
Spain, unfortunately, needs money and it's not leaving a single stone unturned.