Yes, enjoy yourThe EU needs to stop with their money grabbing overreaching policies and acting like they run the planet
Numbers speak for themselves:
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Report: Apple Nearing Agreement With EU Over App Store Rules
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The EU is an association of states. This makes it more efficient and effective for every citizen and every company.
Oh, you know what... anyone who refers to a state or association of states as a “gatekeeper” has spent too long in the American education and media system.
It would be like arguing with a flat-earther.
They impact us regardless of whether or not we live there. And I wouldn’t be so sure “compromise” will mean that you get everything you want.
That’s what they feel they have to say. But, the fact that they are actually meeting with the gatekeepers to get something completed and closed is a significant departure from the way Vestager would not let regulators meet with them.
What I always find funny about such figures is that they refer to facts that have nothing to do with normal people.The EU needs to stop with their money grabbing overreaching policies and acting like they run the planet
Numbers speak for themselves:
As a normal person with a normal job, you couldn't care less how much the US GDP has grown. Because as a normal working person, you don't benefit from it in any way.
This is because GDP is fed by the economic figures of large companies. So, for example, if Bank of America issues $50 billion in loans, that increases GDP. If Apple sells more devices again, that's part of GDP.
Now tell me, when was the last time your life improved because GDP rose?
Never. There are developing countries with massive GDPs where 90% of the people are starving. Because GDP never reaches the citizens.
Umm I think the country where Apple one campus is located should do the same, but extend to military and more.The EU needs to stop with their money grabbing overreaching policies and acting like they run the planet
Numbers speak for themselves:
You'll have to forgive us Americans. As I've been reminded recently in discussions with some college age relatives, we are absolutely inundated with neo-liberal brainwashing in our schools here.
The indoctrination of this as "the only and best way" is on par with religious indoctrination.
It's actually pretty impressive (and depressing).
Exactly. Just because a country has high GDP doesn’t mean their citizens would benefit from it, unless we are talking about national pride then idk maybe.
How?
One way or another, we’ll get them. Twenty-seven countries have to agree, whether they are small or large.
The ruling class of the US keeps all the little people focused on the scoreboard for a game they aren't even really playing. It's a great point.
This is somewhat related to all the Americans who think they too will someday be one of "the rich people", so we better not regulate them too much! "Soon that will be me!"
(narrator) It never ends up being them, and instead they suffer through a far poorer quality of life than if they'd simply vote their actual interests.
And I thought its nemesis doing the same was bad. Turns out they are two sides of a coin after all.
But let's definitely stay focused on making sure MEGACORP can do whatever it wants!
(like remove Apps from your phone that Trump doesn't like)
😞
China appeared to deal with them just fine by restricting sales of new products until their needs were met. Indonesia as well. Fines are, apparently, not the ONLY way to deal with entities the size and scale of Apple. And, actually, not even the most effective way.
Perhaps it’s just the only way to deal with entities that you desperately wish to continue to do business in the region while defining how you want to get more money from them?
Let me introduce you to the very real problem of systemic injustice.
In America, you can bust your ass and get nothing, or do **** all and be handed the world.
Tell me, where does personal responsibility enter into that equation?
"Personal responsibility" is one of those things that sounds good and feeds into the American narratives of freedom and self determinism.
Unfortunately the realities of modern life in complex societies ends up relegating folks to outcomes that are majority based upon things totally outside their control.
If folks would vote based upon their immediate and/or near time real interests ... it'd be amazing to see how much different things could and would be.
America largely got destroyed by Citizens United (unlimited dark money in politics).
Even my very right leaning friends (really more of "the center" now) agree on that one.
One thing. The DMA includes language that says that, even if a company action does not go against the letter of the DMA, a regulator can still say it’s an issue if they feel it should be. The iPad became a gatekeeper device via this part of the DMA as it most certainly didn’t meet the quantitative thresholds, but Vestager felt that one day it MIGHT meet those thresholds, so it was designated a gatekeeper device.
Unless Americans have some heretofore undefined power to read EU regulator’s minds, there’s no way they can “understand” what those regulators will “feel” is a problem.
You’re conflating my personal opinion with the actual facts of the matter being discussed at hand and attempting to discern a nonexistent personal belief about perceived social matters
I’m literally just stating a fact here ⬆️ the US has far more economic clout than all of Europe combined - A well documented and dramatic change from just less than two decades ago (when it was the other way around) when the EU had higher GDP (& economic clout)
This law was specifically written with the intention of targeting successful American companies - the very law mandates a minimum of $75 billion market capitalization threshold for which to adhere to these stringent regulations - thereby excluding the vast majority of companies worldwide
5% fines levied on global (revenue) for a company the scale of Apple would amount to over $20 billion annually - now you tell me, does $20 billion annually sound excessive to you or a reasonable amount? With the primary objective of said fines also being obfuscated behind policy (that I actually personally agree with) I don’t endorse my country’s loose consumer protection enforcement (like you imply that I do) and would much rather accountability be upheld to current on-the-books law. Which, unfortunately IS NOT happening in the US as it should be (and was intended and designed to be)
There is also unified consensus on excessive EU fines indeed being an overreach:
Europe's Arbitrary Fines Harm American Companies and Workers
A recent fine on Uber is the latest example of Europe's unjustifiable use of penalties on American companies.
The easiest one is that all the time and money spent implementing features no one is asking for like “browser choice screen on device setup” and “ability to uninstall the camera app” weren’t spent on features actually making the device better.
Even if a feature is EU-only, the engineering, security, and business changes aren’t. They shape Apple’s global roadmap, which directly affects what ships for US users. More code complexity also means more chances for bugs to be introduced, more security issues.
The law actively discourages Apple from innovating, and that affects everyone.
I have no doubt the EU will “get what it wants”, I do doubt that it will result in what they say it will result in, and that third party stores ever become a thing. Because they're not on Android, which has been open since Day 1.
And I suspect the regulations will lead to a security issue years down the line, that like Crowdstrike, wouldn’t have happened if the EU hadn’t gotten involved. And despite the denials, it’ll be the EU’s fault.
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I would simply reduce economic efforts relative to the fine. If it means switching down certain EU operations for two months, then do it. The EU must learn that if the fines are exorbitant and the rules eccentric and egregious, then companies will cover the costs of fines by removing economic output in a region. Apple should also switch its European HQ outside the EU.
When will Spotify have to abide by the DMA? They’re the largest music streamer in the world and hold a monopoly. They’re also a gatekeeper because if you’re an artist and want to be on Spotify you have to agree to their terms.
Oh wait, nevermind, the EU isn’t interested in policing their own tech companies. They just want to extract rent from US companies.
Oh wait, nevermind, the EU isn’t interested in policing their own tech companies. They just want to extract rent from US companies.
Targeting the largest firms surprises you?
The larger the firm and with more clout and market power, the more need to be regulated (almost by definition).
Meanwhile, in the US where penalties are much smaller, firms just ignore them, pay them and rack it up as the cost of doing business.
I'll never understand folks who seem to want corporate power to literally be above ALL other global concerns.
Do folks realize what a dystopian, unchecked, outcome they are advocating for?
Oh man, if only you had an app that would give you a chance to see them coming!
It's crazy to me how Apple openly (and, honestly, embarrassingly) resists laws passed and implemented by a democratic process and body but readily and eagerly bows down for the diet coke despot.
It also ensures their companies won't be ensnared, because their regulations actively discourage innovation and drive European tech workers and companies to the US. But don't take my word for it, here's ASML's CFO