The EU goes ahead with regulatory actions based on competition against Google and Apple. The European Commission (CE) announcement Two preliminary accusations against Google not to comply with Digital market law (DMA) The regulations linked to Google Search and the Play Store, which could lead to fines of $ 35 billion. The regulatory organization too ordered Apple to make iOS more open to third -party devices such as smart watches, headphones and televisions. Decisions arise against US President Donald Trump threatening additional prices on nations that regulate large American technological companies.
As part of An investigation that started last MarchThe EC accused Google Tuesday of having violated DMA by promoting its own services (such as purchases, hotels, transport and financial and sports results) in research results on third -party competitors. Regulators said that the company offered its services "greater treatment compared to others" By displaying them with improved visual formats and filtering mechanisms.
The EC also billed the company from prevented Google Play application developers from informing customers of alternative channels for cheaper offers. Although the Commission said Alphabet had the right to charge developer fees to direct a customer to another channel, he said that what the company requires in return goes beyond what is justified – "A high price over a period too long for each purchase of digital goods and services."
"The two preliminary results that we adopt today aim to guarantee that the alphabet respects the EU rules in terms of two services widely used by EU companies and consumers, Google research and Android phones," EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said in a statement.
The DMA, which was adopted in 2022, allows European regulators to amend companies up to 10% of their world revenues. The Commission can double the penalty to 20% for recurrences. Alphabet brought Over $ 350 billion last year.
The Commission stresses that the accusations are not definitively and that Alphabet can always defend its decisions in writing before being finalized.
EU movements follow a recent promise to enforce its regulatory laws despite Trump’s pricing threats as part of its climbing of the trade war with other nations. He wrote a note At the end of February, saying that he would consider the prices in response to "Taxes of digital, fines, practices and policies services" on American companies. In turn, it said that she "Answer quickly and decisively to defend his rights and regulatory autonomy against unjustified measures."
Although the CE’s decision for Apple does not imply (yet) the costs, it has offered measures to the company that the company must comply to avoid them in the future. First, the company must ensure greater compatibility with third -party devices that connect to iPhones. Unless Apple wants to face fines of more than $ 39 billion, it will have to improve areas such as notifications for third-party watches, data transfer speeds (such as Wi-Fi and NFC between peers) and the processes of matching on the connected accessories of competing companies.
The EC also ordered Apple to improve access to technical documentation for developers in order to have their products interact with iPhones and iPads.
"Effective interoperability for third -party connected devices is an important step towards opening the Apple ecosystem," Ribera said in a statement. "This will lead to a better choice for consumers on the fast growing market for innovative connected devices."
This article originally appeared on engadget on https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/the-new-changes-against-google-could-lead-atleast-35-billion-in-fines-165850585.html?src=RSSSS
