Japan Preparing to Regulate Big Tech in Collaboration with U.S. and Europe

[Morgenland]

I distrust authorities who want to regulate something but do not know what for. Anyone who thinks in simplistic terms that they can make the world more consumer-friendly by breaking up large companies is mistaken.

Some ideas only become possible when a company is strong enough to spread them around the world.

E.g. Apple has just opened the MP3 market. Otherwise you would now have an endless number of small Internet Music Labels and would not find anything at all. This is just one example of why more providers don't basically make the world simpler or cheaper or more nerve-racking.

 

[warp9]

"If digital platform providers are found to be abusing their dominant market positions against the interests of consumers"

This needs to be clarified. What is of interest to me may not be of interest to you. Some people want a locked down iOS App Store, others want it to be free and open for anybody. Some want Google to manage their lives, others want their privacy.

Whenever someone suggests they should speak for everybody, things will only turn bad, eventually.

 

[Morgenland]

Apple should pay $1 billion each time they block an app because of 'irrelevant' information ...

i do not understand your joke so at all

 

[jimbobb24]

That is not what is up for debate. They have a right to be a crapfest. Twitter is in the wrong for the censorship.

When a made up story with anonymous sources was circulating did twitter say hey that’s too far?

People that lean left seem ok because their team gets the benefits. But what happens if some future govt takes over twitter and suddenly the power of Facebook and twitter and google now is in the hands of people you feel oppose you politically. It’s better the people decide that they tools should be restrained independent of which team they support because they are just trouble.

 

[Salty Pirate]

When a made up story with anonymous sources was circulating did twitter say hey that’s too far?

People that lean left seem ok because their team gets the benefits. But what happens if some future govt takes over twitter and suddenly the power of Facebook and twitter and google now is in the hands of people you feel oppose you politically. It’s better the people decide that they tools should be restrained independent of which team they support because they are just trouble.

made up anonymous sources like the trump tax release, or the Russian bounty story? Or the entire Russia hoax?

Too far, like slogans that were all over twitter about burn Louisville to the ground?

The source, is hunter Biden's laptop.

What "people" should decide?

 

[ksec]

Most Apple Fans on MR ( And there are lots of them ) seems to think Apple is bigger than the Government, and those Government who doesn't want Apple's App Store policy can do without an iPhone or Apple.

To those Apple Fans, You should ask Tim Cook if Apple is willing to give up Europe, Japan and Australian market.

Because the same applies to Apple, if Apple dont like those countries policy, they can do without those market.

 

[I7guy]

Government is great at many things. Stifling innovation and competition through draconian regulation is one of them.

The critics should be asking if a country is better off or not without Apple's (or other big tech company) technology and support and why did these countries let big tech in there to begin with. How would it be for the country if one or more big tech firms pulled out.

 

[RickInHouston]

Big Tech needs to be regulatated. Twitter especially. Locking the account of the NY Post????

So very blatant.

 

[bobbie424242]

This is the decade where people here and on /r/Apple lose their collective mind because godly Apple is regulated and beloved 2 trillion corporation acting solely for the greater good of humanity is under attack and cannot defend itself.
"Won't anyone leave Apple alone ?!" /s

 

[mailman199]

Its long past time to put some controls in place. Legislating them will be a mixed bag, but it cannot be the Wild West for much longer.

 

[jonblatho]

Government is great at many things. Stifling innovation and competition through draconian regulation is one of them.

The critics should be asking if a country is better off or not without Apple's (or other big tech company) technology and support and why did these countries let big tech in there to begin with. How would it be for the country if one or more big tech firms pulled out.

Unforeseen consequences. I’d say there are ways in which the iPhone, for example, has made life both better and worse for all of us.

 

[threesixty360]

Personally I dont have a massive problem with Amazon, Apple and MS etc.. as you can clearly see how they make money. FB, Twitter and Google though.. wow wow wow.. What FB and Twitter have been allowed to do over the last 10 yrs has reshaped the worlds cognitive behaviour completely. Thats really scary.

Apple is just a normal company that sells things, I get that. FB is selling people's minds.

 

[bousozoku]

That is not what is up for debate. They have a right to be a crapfest. Twitter is in the wrong for the censorship.

It's their business and platform. Free speech is available in public places.

 

[Analog Kid]

I find it a bit odd that with all of the consolidation we’ve seen in finance, auto manufacturing, and other markets that the relatively young tech market is seen as anti-competitive... Break up the big banks, then we can talk.

 

[boss.king]

Government is great at many things. Stifling innovation and competition through draconian regulation is one of them.

Not all innovation is good. When it hurts consumers or other businesses more than it helps, it deserves to be regulated.

The critics should be asking if a country is better off or not without Apple's (or other big tech company) technology and support and why did these countries let big tech in there to begin with.

Maybe when they let these companies operate in their countries, they weren't abusing their power to the extent they are now? Or they offered more value than they currently do. Of all people, you'd think tech fans would understand that things can change over time.

How would it be for the country if one or more big tech firms pulled out.

None of these companies are going to pull out. They want marketshare and money, and even if regulation limits their ability to make the kind of profits they do now, less money is better than no money.

 

[Analog Kid]

If Big Tech didn’t keep trying to control what news people can get, who has a voice, etc people probably wouldn’t care. But maybe Japan and Germany don’t think the best world view for them is whatever 20-something year old Californian moderators think.

Which is precisely one of the problems. It’s not good for a government to be able to reach across national borders and interfere with the editorial decisions of an independent business...

 

[subi257]

Exactly, I don’t want anyone being censored. If “BigTech” was censoring and suppressing the “other” side, they would be outraged.
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Crapfest by who’s standard? Yours?

It's crapfest

 

[StevieD100]

They still bundle Safari with Mac OS. It should be a separate app! ?

You don't have to use Safari on MacOS if you don't want to. My default browser is Firefox. It is easy to do. The only time I use Safari is to download Firefox. If that is your only complaint then I wonder what real bad issues would be.

 

[Agit21]

Big Tech needs to be regulatated. Twitter especially. Locking the account of the NY Post????

Yep. That one was really bad.

 

[hugodrax]

Its funny that Japan now is worried about fair trade. They did not see. Worried when they were dumping TV sets below cost and charging the difference in price to the japanese customer base decimating our TV industry.

 

[subi257]

That is not what is up for debate. They have a right to be a crapfest. Twitter is in the wrong for the censorship.

Twitter is not a government entity, as a private (corporate) company they have the right to allow whatever they want or don't want, It is the consumers right to then use them or not. Just like any other company...Apple, Samsung, etc if you don't like their products or practices don't buy or use them.

 

[Glideslope]

Twitter is not a government entity, as a private (corporate) company they have the right to allow whatever they want or don't want, It is the consumers right to then use them or not. Just like any other company...Apple, Samsung, etc if you don't like their products or practices don't buy or use them.

That would require the Govt. to respect your right to privacy, and your right to choose.

Not Orwellian enough for 2020.

 

[subi257]

Which is precisely one of the problems. It’s not good for a government to be able to reach across national borders and interfere with the editorial decisions of an independent business...

Then they can block content that they don't like...The same way that China does. They don't have to block everything, just what don't like.

 

[AppleMad98004]

This will make all tech more expensive and things that were free will now be chargeable.

 

[deevey]

Remember when Microsoft was under intense scrutiny (large fines) from the European Union over Internet Explorer exclusivity. Apple's success with the App Store is drawing similar scrutiny. So I suspect Apple will probably (eventually) make changes to their App Store policies.

The number of pre-installed non-microsoft Apps on Windows nowadays is worse than ever.

Fresh install of Windows 10, went to install Spotify, imagine my surprise that was already installed by default ! Thats the kind of thing that should be a much bigger issue with governments.

I have no issue with OS developers bundling their own software e.g. Photos, iMovie, Facetime or Skype being installed as the default chat app on a Microsoft system or Edge as the browser or hell even windows movie maker. It makes sense as they develop them and they help make for a more complete out-of-the-box experience.

But third party apps like Candy Crush for example - really ?

I find it a bit odd that with all of the consolidation we’ve seen in finance, auto manufacturing, and other markets that the relatively young tech market is seen as anti-competitive... Break up the big banks, then we can talk.

And don't forget the Media Empires while you are at it