What really interests me is the lack of scrutiny towards Google. It all seems focused on Facebook, meanwhile what Facebook did was set a trend that others followed. Hopefully there is more to come, but it is definitely too little too late.
Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
31–40 of 56 posts
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#32If I remember correctly Facebook was only allowed to buy Whatsapp in France because they promised not to share user data between the two services. The German data protection agency basically didn't say anything only because the french said it already. Now Facebook does it's mix-and-mash anyways. I'd have expected to hear something out of France about this. Did I just miss it?
> Now Facebook does it's mix-and-mash anyways.
Did they? I thought it was just under discussion.
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#33> If Facebook fails to comply, the cartel office could impose fines of up to 10 percent of the company’s annual global revenues, which grew by 37 percent to $55.8 billion last year.
I hope they go for the maximum fine.
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#34Earlier quoted context omitted.
Domestic data hoarders and advertisers - extremely invasive and territorial. The difference is that none of them runs social networking website or mobile messenger app, thus without consumer facing facade many uninformed assume they don't exist. e.g. their media and retail oligopolies like to roll out their own ad, tracking, and loyalty programs to have full control of the data. They don't let anyone in and are tryin…
What does "other data collectors exist" have to do with Facebook's status as the dominating social network (95% (measuring DAUs)/80% (measuring MAUs) market share according to the press release)? Facebook also clearly cites other social media companies/networks from a wider scope in defense, not data collectors.
there are other relevant collectors as well
for example Deutsche Post (German Postal Services), see https://www.dw.com/en/deutsche-post-sold-voter-microtargetin...
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#35If I remember correctly Facebook was only allowed to buy Whatsapp in France because they promised not to share user data between the two services. The German data protection agency basically didn't say anything only because the french said it already. Now Facebook does it's mix-and-mash anyways. I'd have expected to hear something out of France about this. Did I just miss it?
> Now Facebook does it's mix-and-mash anyways. Did they? I thought it was just under discussion.
They have been doing it to a smaller extent outside the EU, with contacts data being shared between WhatsApp and Facebook. Therefore if you have the Facebook app installed as well as WhatsApp, every contact in Facebook and WhatsApp will be integrated as best as possible.
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#36What about Google? (With their Adsense, analytics, email, search ... setup ...)
I hope Google will also be one day forced to use permissions on per app and per service base. If I want to give Google Maps access to my location it means only Maps and for limited scope not all across Google ecosystem. Android is constantly nagging me to turn on location and wifi scanning for example to use Google Home. It doesn't make sense - they could use SSID of my home wifi to make sure that I am home. Where my…
So you want to use ad-supported services without feeding the ad-system that keeps the services running? Why do think you have a right to use Google Maps without supporting the underlaying business model?
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#37What really interests me is the lack of scrutiny towards Google. It all seems focused on Facebook, meanwhile what Facebook did was set a trend that others followed. Hopefully there is more to come, but it is definitely too little too late.
Whataboutism?
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#38Earlier quoted context omitted.
I hope Google will also be one day forced to use permissions on per app and per service base. If I want to give Google Maps access to my location it means only Maps and for limited scope not all across Google ecosystem. Android is constantly nagging me to turn on location and wifi scanning for example to use Google Home. It doesn't make sense - they could use SSID of my home wifi to make sure that I am home. Where my…
So you want to use ad-supported services without feeding the ad-system that keeps the services running? Why do think you have a right to use Google Maps without supporting the underlaying business model?
I have acctually paid for Google Home and for my smartphone. Can you explain how is this add supported deal?
Plus I do not object to ads in Maps based on my behaviour in Maps. I do object against that spider's web that Google and FB is building around my entire life.
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#39Earlier quoted context omitted.
I hope Google will also be one day forced to use permissions on per app and per service base. If I want to give Google Maps access to my location it means only Maps and for limited scope not all across Google ecosystem. Android is constantly nagging me to turn on location and wifi scanning for example to use Google Home. It doesn't make sense - they could use SSID of my home wifi to make sure that I am home. Where my…
So you want to use ad-supported services without feeding the ad-system that keeps the services running? Why do think you have a right to use Google Maps without supporting the underlaying business model?
Google maps can charge for API use. They already do. Services can charge money -- not everything has to be ad supported. Business models aren't inviolate things -- they exploit existing regulations. When the regulations change, then so do the business models.
Re: Facebook's data gathering hit by German anti-trust clampdown
#40> “The decision by the cartel authority, known as the Bundeskartellamt in German, allows Facebook to continue collecting data from its services like WhatsApp and Instagram. But the company will not be permitted to link this information to Facebook user accounts unless a user has explicitly consented.”
Facebook will just get away with a dark pattern of showing some new consent agreement to “improve your user experience” and nag people until they accept out of frustration.
Can’t any regulators just say, “No, you can’t do this under any circumstances. Period.”? Or come up with laws that prohibit these practices, knowing fully well the size and influence of Facebook and its properties (applying it to similar companies/models as well)?