Apple Can Still Offer a Key iPhone Privacy Feature in France, Says Judge

[MacRumors]

A judge in Paris today decided not to suspend Apple's App Tracking Transparency privacy feature in France, according to the French newspaper La Tribune.

In a statement shared with the publication, Apple said it welcomed the court's decision and will continue to support strong privacy protections for users.

Last year, Apple was fined €150 million by France's competition regulator, after it determined that the company's decision to implement App Tracking Transparency was an abuse of market dominance. Specifically, the regulator said the feature unfairly disadvantaged both third-party app developers and advertisers.

Since the release of iOS 14.5 in April 2021, Apple has required apps to ask for permission before tracking a user's activity across other apps and websites for personalized advertising. If a user selects the "Ask App Not to Track" option, the app is unable to access the device's advertising identifier. The feature enhances user privacy, but some advertisers have complained that it has significantly impacted revenue.

Last year, Apple warned that it may be forced to stop offering App Tracking Transparency in the EU due to regulatory pressures in countries such as France, Italy, Germany, and Poland, and from the overarching European Commission. But, it appears that the feature will live on in France for now following Apple's victory today.

Article Link: Apple Can Still Offer a Key iPhone Privacy Feature in France, Says Judge

 

[Love-hate 🍏 relationship]

phew

 

[subjonas]

Protecting a business model that depends on a lack of transparency with consumers about their data is anti-consumer.

 

[burgman]

Protecting a business model that depends on a lack of transparency with consumers about their data is anti-consumer.

The company's rights are more important than an individuals, that sounds like a regulatory agency infiltrated. Much like American model of regulation these days.

 

[BeatsByTim]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

 

[justanotherdave]

Sooooo, does Apple get the fine money back?

Or are they being fined for adding the feature AND also being allowed to keep the feature? If it’s the latter that’s some next-level Bizarro World.

 

[ryanmp]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

Sometimes does look that way

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Protecting a business model that depends on a lack of transparency with consumers about their data is anti-consumer.

It is insane how many people think that tracking users across apps and websites is ok. They’ll say, “I don’t want Meta sharing my data” but when Apple has a feature that literally communicates that decision with an App Developer it’s “OH NO, Apple, Meta should be able to get that information whenever they want it!!”

 

[Dj64Mk7]

the regulator said the feature unfairly disadvantaged both third-party app developers and advertisers.

Since when is France trying to copy present-day America? 😭

 

[mansplains]

advertisers have complained that it has significantly impacted revenue

Fine by me 👏

 

[budselectjr]

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Sometimes does look that way

Didn’t know that but not surprising. The EU’s entire purpose is expanding bureaucracy and imposing taxes to grow. Not too dissimilar to democratic governance in America though.

 

[CopiumWafu]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

Nonsense. And you know it.

 

[deno]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

Yes Donald

 

[leonremi]

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Sometimes does look that way

Or maybe the issue is that we don’t collect enough taxes from those predatory, foreign companies?

 

[SoN1NjA]

View attachment 2597685
Sometimes does look that way

Perhaps consider idk, the revenue each these companies earned in FY 2024?

A quick look on Google Search reveals Apple took in just under $400 Billion USD, while SAP took in around $35 Billion EUR. So SAP, from your chart, having paid a $1.6 Billion EUR fine, was fined nearly as much as a Apple ($1.8B EUR) who took in over 10x the revenue. How exactly is Apple or other American tech companies being persecuted?

Additionally, the Total Market Cap for FY 2024 for Apple, Google, and Meta was approximately $9 trillion USD. Meanwhile, all of the other companies mentioned in the right side graph had a combined market cap of $0.54 trillion USD for FY 2024.

I'd say the American tech companies made it off quite easily... Especially given how egregious Meta's privacy violations have been.

 

[Alan Wynn]

Perhaps consider idk, the revenue each these companies earned in FY 2024?

This is just considering fines for the American companies, vs. all taxes and fines for the European companies, so the revenue has no bearing.

A quick look on Google Search reveals Apple took in just under $400 Billion USD, while SAP took in around $35 Billion EUR. So SAP, from your chart, having paid a $1.6 Billion EUR fine, was fined nearly as much as a Apple ($1.8B EUR) who took in over 10x the revenue. How exactly is Apple or other American tech companies being persecuted?

Nope. There were no fines for SAP, and this does not count how much Apple paid in taxes. This just considers fines to the American companies against total revenue from all the EU companies.

Additionally, the Total Market Cap for FY 2024 for Apple, Google, and Meta was approximately $9 trillion USD. Meanwhile, all of the other companies mentioned in the right side graph had a combined market cap of $0.54 trillion USD for FY 2024.

Interesting that there are no large European companies. I wonder why that is….

I'd say the American tech companies made it off quite easily... Especially given how egregious Meta's privacy violations have been.

Interesting how the EU made sure that the definition for the DMA does not cover a single European company, despite, for example, Spotify holding the largest share of streaming.

Total coincidence, I am sure.

 

[svish]

Good for Apple and users in France. Very glad to hear about this.

 

[tim-apple-silicon]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

Sir this is a Wendy’s

And the US is founded by Europeans, built on the back of slaves, driven by immigrants 😂

 

[kyjaotkb]

Too little, too late. This $150M fine was scandalous. Obvious favoritism to protect the likes of Criteo, Equativ etc, to the blatant detriment of users' privacy. I am French and this is infuriating me - some lawmakers need to be investigated.

 

[amartinez1660]

This is just considering fines for the American companies, vs. all taxes and fines for the European companies, so the revenue has no bearing.



Nope. There were no fines for SAP, and this does not count how much Apple paid in taxes. This just considers fines to the American companies against total revenue from all the EU companies.



Interesting that there are no large European companies. I wonder why that is….



Interesting how the EU made sure that the definition for the DMA does not cover a single European company, despite, for example, Spotify holding the largest share of streaming.

Total coincidence, I am sure.

Exactly.
There’s some dishonesty for reasons unknown repeating some mantra, as long as it fits “rich US companies are bad” (yet continue to buy their products over and over, that’s how they get rich!).

Also, $9 Trillion USD in the EU? Don’t believe it.
Unless using worldwide numbers on purpose, as it’s now normal to fine a percentage on even the business revenue done on another side of the planet.

 

[amartinez1660]

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This is gold.
It’s the usual culture nowadays, as it’s everywhere too.
The name of the game is to lower everybody else to their standard.
To not be better but make the game easier for some, lower their basketball hoops if you will.

Even socially, a friend or neighbor might be happy to see you succeed, but not more than them.

The best Apple could have done I believe is finding an underdog story somewhere in here, people love underdog stories, but revenues and profits being public makes it impossible. Just like an acquaintance discovering your net worth being high and turning the relationship sour.

 

[SBlue1]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

Yeah to an untrained American eye this may look so, because Americans don’t know that consumer protection exists.

 

[sdz]

European regulators only exist to punish successful American companies because Europeans can’t compete on innovation.

MORE MORE MORE punishments for Big Tech. I applaud the E.U. Commission.

 

[Unregistered 4U]

Yeah to an untrained American eye this may look so, because Americans don’t know that consumer protection exists.

To a trained EU eye, the EU is known for regulating tech companies out of existence OR out of the region. The EU can’t compete on innovation because they regulate before EU companies have the opportunity to innovate. That limitation doesn’t exist when they leave the region, though.

Better regulation in Europe: An action plan for the next Commission

As Europe tries to boost its economic growth and become more innovative, the EU must reinvigorate the ‘better regulation’ agenda – and adapt it to how the EU institutions are evolving.

www.cer.eu

They shouldn’t have to wonder what to do IF the US government decides to restrict EU access to tech created by US companies. They should assume that there’s a critical strategic need to own the ability to design and produce their own hardware/OS’s. Even if it’s only ever used widely in the EU, that’s a MASSIVE number of users to fund and iterate it over time. And, if it’s seen as BETTER than Android/iOS, that’s not bad, either.

EDIT:

https://www.reddit.com/r/XGramatikInsights/comments/1qjqf19/german_chancellor_merz_admits_we_must