Apple hit with $162 million French antitrust fine over privacy tool
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That's just a slap on the wrist for them.
They went so far as to say that they regret it but the decision didn’t impose any change of behavior. That’s as much of a shrug as you can officially get.
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They went so far as to say that they regret it but the decision didn’t impose any change of behavior. That’s as much of a shrug as you can officially get.
And it was the advertisers who complained and won this case. This might still be a win for data privacy, if Apple leaves control over ads in the users' hands.
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I call bullshit on this one. France takes issue with Apple implementing App Tracking Transparency because it hurts advertisers? What exactly does France think following the law looks like? Allowing advertisers to track you by default? They did not outline any specific way the software should change. This honestly just seems like a money grab on the part of France.
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That's just a slap on the wrist for them.
Not even a slap on the wrist
Apple made $33B in revenue in Europe for the last quarter of 2024. That is about $2B a week or $360M a day.
The fine of $160M by the French gov is not even half a day of European revenue.
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I find it pathetic. If politicians wanted to stop these violation they could. If I have a restaurant in town and the antitrust penalties is, by law, a maximum of 10% of my profits... considering a court ruling takes some 5-7 years that is an actual some 2% fine. What incentive is that from me to get rid of all my competition in town!? I would not stop my illegal practices even if fines where 10 times that!!
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Not even a slap on the wrist
Apple made $33B in revenue in Europe for the last quarter of 2024. That is about $2B a week or $360M a day.
The fine of $160M by the French gov is not even half a day of European revenue.
That's roughly the equivalent of a $100 fine for someone who makes 75k
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I find it pathetic. If politicians wanted to stop these violation they could. If I have a restaurant in town and the antitrust penalties is, by law, a maximum of 10% of my profits... considering a court ruling takes some 5-7 years that is an actual some 2% fine. What incentive is that from me to get rid of all my competition in town!? I would not stop my illegal practices even if fines where 10 times that!!
What about shutting down their bussiness if they fail to comply.
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I call bullshit on this one. France takes issue with Apple implementing App Tracking Transparency because it hurts advertisers? What exactly does France think following the law looks like? Allowing advertisers to track you by default? They did not outline any specific way the software should change. This honestly just seems like a money grab on the part of France.
Its not the EUs fault that US companies keep breaking the law. Don't break the law, don't get fined. It really is simple. EU companies aren't getting these fines.
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Its not the EUs fault that US companies keep breaking the law. Don't break the law, don't get fined. It really is simple. EU companies aren't getting these fines.
To be clear: you agree with France that advertisers should have free reign to track you because some app developers are small businesses?
If you didn't read the article and are just being a little jingo right now, that's what you're defending.
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To be clear: you agree with France that advertisers should have free reign to track you because some app developers are small businesses?
If you didn't read the article and are just being a little jingo right now, that's what you're defending.
No. GDPR exists for many reasons, one of them being giving people THE CHOICE to let apps personalise their ads, or not. Apple takes away that choice by not allowing tracking by default. This is what is at stake.
What Apple is doing is indeed disrespecting the spirit of the law by taking away the choice of being tracked, while also damaging EU businesses who rely on advertising because believe it or not, there are many small app creators as well as small advertising companies operating in the EU.
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Its not the EUs fault that US companies keep breaking the law. Don't break the law, don't get fined. It really is simple. EU companies aren't getting these fines.
What law was broken? The court didn't seem able to even articulate it. You can't either.
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What law was broken? The court didn't seem able to even articulate it. You can't either.
Yes they did. Its a new precedent set based on anticompetitive practices. Shouldn't be hard to understand.
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No. GDPR exists for many reasons, one of them being giving people THE CHOICE to let apps personalise their ads, or not. Apple takes away that choice by not allowing tracking by default. This is what is at stake.
What Apple is doing is indeed disrespecting the spirit of the law by taking away the choice of being tracked, while also damaging EU businesses who rely on advertising because believe it or not, there are many small app creators as well as small advertising companies operating in the EU.
So you are defending advertisers against users by calling it a choice? You think tracking is a net good that any informed person would opt in to?
You're defending immoral practices by saying it's the law.
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So you are defending advertisers against users by calling it a choice? You think tracking is a net good that any informed person would opt in to?
You're defending immoral practices by saying it's the law.
My opinion on the matter is irrelevant, I'm just explaining what the case is about.
The advertising industry is real, and will keep existing, whether you like it or not.
Plus, it's not like Apple was protecting you from Ada so I don't know what your point even is?
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My opinion on the matter is irrelevant, I'm just explaining what the case is about.
The advertising industry is real, and will keep existing, whether you like it or not.
Plus, it's not like Apple was protecting you from Ada so I don't know what your point even is?
you're absolutely insane I don't want to talk to you
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Yes they did. Its a new precedent set based on anticompetitive practices. Shouldn't be hard to understand.
You still didn't articulate it. You're just throwing around generalities.
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No. GDPR exists for many reasons, one of them being giving people THE CHOICE to let apps personalise their ads, or not. Apple takes away that choice by not allowing tracking by default. This is what is at stake.
What Apple is doing is indeed disrespecting the spirit of the law by taking away the choice of being tracked, while also damaging EU businesses who rely on advertising because believe it or not, there are many small app creators as well as small advertising companies operating in the EU.
Uh, no. GDPR is about how private data is stored, handled, and removed - and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent. The consent is only a requirement if data is being sent to third parties - not sending data to third parties is perfectly fine and almost encouraged.
Source: working heavily with PII and talking to data privacy lawyers quite often
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Uh, no. GDPR is about how private data is stored, handled, and removed - and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent. The consent is only a requirement if data is being sent to third parties - not sending data to third parties is perfectly fine and almost encouraged.
Source: working heavily with PII and talking to data privacy lawyers quite often
and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent.
You literally said it. Apple removes this option.
Also, I cannot shake off the feeling that everyone in this sub is just shilling allowing a massive US conglomerate to exploit all digital ad revenue on EU soil, while local smaller companies get jack.
It would be like some EU car manufacturer selling electric cars in the US that van only be charged using proprietary chargers from the EU. Surely consumers would be upset at the lack of choice, and with reason.
Or maybe not. After all, tesla was allowed to do just that for a very long time. In any case, the EU is opening business opportunities (or rather, re-opening them) by shutting down a monopolistic practice that harms competition. The US refuses to make use of their antitrust laws, so we have to do it for you. You're welcome.
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and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent.
You literally said it. Apple removes this option.
Also, I cannot shake off the feeling that everyone in this sub is just shilling allowing a massive US conglomerate to exploit all digital ad revenue on EU soil, while local smaller companies get jack.
It would be like some EU car manufacturer selling electric cars in the US that van only be charged using proprietary chargers from the EU. Surely consumers would be upset at the lack of choice, and with reason.
Or maybe not. After all, tesla was allowed to do just that for a very long time. In any case, the EU is opening business opportunities (or rather, re-opening them) by shutting down a monopolistic practice that harms competition. The US refuses to make use of their antitrust laws, so we have to do it for you. You're welcome.
Did you read past that sentence?
I am in no way trying to support Apple but perhaps you should reflect on the very questions and statements you’re making.
