EU Plans to Ban Tech Companies From Pre-Installing Apps, Force Them to Share Data With Competitors

[AndiG]

Funny. Reminds me when Microsofts had to offer different browsers in the installation process.
Apple could be forced to offer alternative apps during the setup.

Don't know if I should like the idea - but that Gatekeeper act is really cool: When Apple blocks all competitors from collecting personal data, Apple itself is not allowed to collect and use personal data. This would be really cool. Apples own advertising services busted!!!

 

[Kylo83]

im in the uk and the EU have no power dont worry we left them

 

[MacLawyer]

Hi! I'm from the government and I'm going to help you.

 

[ian87w]

force the likes of Apple, Amazon, and Google to hand over customer data to smaller rivals

Wait, what? So the regulation is forcing Apple/Google to hand over CUSTOMER DATA to smaller rivals? This is insane! Where's MY consent as the customer? And as a non-EU person, why should MY data be handed over willy nilly to random small companies just because of EU laws? Is this for real?

 

[cupcakes2000]

im in the uk and the EU have no power dont worry we left them

Good luck with that as every major business that uses the uk as a gateway into the eu also leaves us.

 

[Bornee35]

Wait, what? So the regulation is forcing Apple/Google to hand over CUSTOMER DATA to smaller rivals? This is insane! Where's MY consent as the customer? And as a non-EU person, why should MY data be handed over willy nilly to random small companies just because of EU laws? Is this for real?

It literally goes against the GDPR that the EU already forced upon the world.

 

[bobmans]

Wait, what? So the regulation is forcing Apple/Google to hand over CUSTOMER DATA to smaller rivals? This is insane! Where's MY consent as the customer? And as a non-EU person, why should MY data be handed over willy nilly to random small companies just because of EU laws? Is this for real?

Sounds so weird, especially because Europe just only introduced GDPR a few years ago to protect our data.
Now they want our data to be handed out to all those small companies? There's a reason I use an iPhone and avoid Google/Facebook products, I don't want all these random companies to have my data.

 

[FaustsHausUK]

Honestly they'd have more impact if they simply cracked down on platform holders buying or copycatting newcomers. Apple, Amazon, Google and Facebook have done more harm to the competitive landscape that way as far as I can tell.

 

[ArPe]

This is dumb. Installing whatever apps you need or want is two clicks away. Having preinstalled services and apps doesn’t mean people aren’t signing up up other apps and services. The EU keeps showing its ignorance on tech issues.

I’m not having my data handed over to companies I don’t want to deal with. It’s bad enough they try to get it anyway.

 

[Speedy2]

Before everyone here explodes, there are a few things to keep in mind.

This legislation is a DRAFT.
It's extremely likely that there will be changes to it, before it's passed in the EU parliament.

Also, the idea that no apps whatsoever, not even an app store, could be preinstalled is an *interpretation*, and a very superficial one at best, made by Macrumors or Financial Times. I doubt that there is anything in the draft that states this explicitly.
It could very well be argued by Apple and Google that an app store is part of the device.
Regarding apps like Music etc, there could be the requirement to give users a choice when they setup their device. Same way it was handled with Windows and the browser a decade ago. So just answer a few more questions at setup and you'll have your stock music app etc.
I highly doubt that this would affect stock apps like calendar, notes and even email or the browser. None of these are tied to a specfic service.
So whoever wrote this alarmist article should maybe relax a little.

Finally, any regulation passed by the EU can be fought in the EU courts. The courts are very independent and will strike down anything that is a clear overeach. See Apple taxes in Ireland.


I'm not saying I support all the details of this proposed law. I'm just advising everyone to wait till the draft is actually going into the final stages of legislation, and what will eventually be passed.

Rest assured, the tech giants spend a ton of lobbying money in the EU, so this won't simply happen without a major media coverage.

 

[AxiomaticRubric]

You're all assuming that what is stated in this article is the full and complete picture. Somehow I doubt it.

Exactly! For example, which cloud services would be immediately available to new devices for finding and installing apps? Only those controlled by the EU perhaps? 🤔

 

[MvdM]

If they only knew what they were talking about at the EU.

 

[ArPe]

Sounds so weird, especially because Europe just only introduced GDPR a few years ago to protect our data.
Now they want our data to be handed out to all those small companies? There's a reason I use an iPhone and avoid Google/Facebook products, I don't want all these random companies to have my data.

The EU are tech illiterate and that’s why they contradict themselves. If they knew anything about tech they would help raise more funds for European start ups wherever there are people looking for new opportunities.

 

[Bokito]

This once again shows how much the EU is disconnected from the needs of it’s inhabitants. It also shows that lawmakers in the EU don’t understand tech and their own proposed laws.

Back in the zeroes the EU had Microsoft make a special Windows version without Windows Media Player pre-installed. If I’m correct that version only sold a few hundred copies while being available for years. I hope history doesn’t repeat itself again, but I think the Commission is that dump.

 

[ruka.snow]

Sounds good, we can have Measure, Home, Translate, iBooks removed. Maybe even force them to remove TV+ references and Apple Music from the TV and Music apps.

 

[hardon]

Makes sense to me, but sadly the UK is leaving the EU so it won't apply to us.

errrr I think you’ll find we already left

 

[ashleykaryl]

In other words the EU doesn't like it that all successful companies are from the US and wants to force the handover of their data to companies based in the EU, regardless of whether the consumer agrees.

 

[Abazigal]

The EU has jumped the shark officially.

I get that they have a desire to rein in the dominant tech giants which are all US companies, while favouring their own homegrown local competition, but this goes beyond ridiculous. How is it considered a good experience to buy a new iPhone and find no apps preinstalled and then have to go into the App Store to download basic apps like mail or safari?

This is a move that doesn’t benefit consumers at all. It’s solely aimed at propping up businesses, but at what cost?

If this goes on, I would rather Apple just exit the EU market altogether. Let them make their own competing phone and ecosystem if they really want meaningful competition.

 

[leman]

Restrictions on data collection and use: excellent. Fully support.

Restrictions on pre-installed apps and services: not sure how it is supposed to work. I am fully ok with it as long as it only concerns apps that provide non system-specific functionality. Browsers, Email clients, Music players etc. should be user-replaceable.

 

[Akrapovic]

This'll be fun explaining to your less technical friends why they just bought an £800 iPhone or Samsung and don't have a calculator app.

Would love to see how far this extends. No phone capability until you download a phone app.

 

[leman]

In other words the EU doesn't like it that all successful companies are from the US and wants to force the handover of their data to companies based in the EU, regardless of whether the consumer agrees.

No, EU simply doesn't like that USA is forcing their crappy standards (or better, lack thereof) onto the rest of the world. Just because USA doesn't care about safety, personal rights or life quality doesn't mean that nobody should care about it.

 

[LeadingHeat]

Ugly for consumers, like the totally annoying mandatory privacy nag screen that ruined the web experience here in Europe.

That annoying and intrusive “cookies” banner is worldwide now. Because heaven help if a European citizen traveled to America and got on a website, their data wouldn’t be protected anymore! /s

EU at it again with this out of touch technology lawmaking. Sure, let the preinstalled apps get deleted. But that can already be done on iOS. Sure, let users choose to change the default app if they so wish. That’s already starting. But don’t force my user data into the hands of a small company who has no respect for my data. I also don’t want to buy a phone that won’t work when I turn it on until I download an App Store and text messaging app and phone app. Not to mention the camera, weather, or email.

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Weirdly backwards to suggest actually forcing data sharing

This is easily solved if Apple doesn't collect the data to begin with.

Apple: We have shared all the data we collect.
EU: But the file is empty.
Apple: ...

 

[gavroche]

Great... another link I can save and paste into a reply every time someone from the EU complains that products cost more there than they do elsewhere.

 

[ruka.snow]

Restrictions on data collection and use: excellent. Fully support.

Restrictions on pre-installed apps and services: not sure how it is supposed to work. I am fully ok with it as long as it only concerns apps that provide non system-specific functionality. Browsers, Email clients, Music players etc. should be user-replaceable.

It is most likely non system specific apps. Even macOS itself could do with this, like why can't we remove Chess, Contacts, Home, News, Music, Stocks, TV, and even Safari. I personally use Safari and Music(for my bought songs), but those other apps serve no function but taking up space.