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Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

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Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#51
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GDPR is quite good actually, we will just need to find a way to use its power for good.

It's good for US tech because it is yet another cost and restriction EU startups have to face before they can grow to scale and profitability.

It applies to everyone who wants to serve EU customers.

As for startups: depending on what kind of personal data you are collecting, being GDPR complicit shouldn't take more than a day.

If it takes longer you are building a business around personal data, and I think you should know your stuff (not just GDPR, but also what kind of data you are collecting and why).

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#52
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Let's not pretend it's not a mixed bag, e.g.: 'European multinationals are aggressively pursuing one of milk’s few growth markets, where locals say they can’t compete.' https://www.politico.eu/article/eus-milk-scramble-for-africa...

Weird, since there is already a milk quota in place in Europe. I don't think it's related to the EU as institution

I just read the quoted headline, but it's not about quotas but EU based multinationals extending their business / exporting milk powder to Africa, tripling exports in 10 years (2006 - 2016) and competing with local farmers to the point they are put out of business. Not sure how the EU fits in there, other than that they provide an economic and legislative climate that allows milk prices to go low enough to make such a business viable.

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#53
post #29
post #23

That's small money for the Google. Last year they gave Google €4.34bn fine and in year 2017 they gave Google €2.42bn fine.

Basically, at this point I'm sure there is a standing ~€2.5 bn section in Google's annual budget simply labeled "misc. EU fines". If they manage to keep it under €2bn in any given year they probably consider that a win and pay out bonuses to their legal team.

The legal team must be proud of their achievement

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#54
post #38

The EU feels to me like one of the few forces for good in the world at the moment

There was a commentary in the German media in context of Brexit that I think really think sums the EU and her role in the world up nicely: "Brexit shows what we have in the EU. She clears up issues among neighbors, grating them into rules and sometimes unsatisfactory compromises. But she grates them small, in a civilized and peaceful way. That's her big achievement." (rough translation by me, sorry) https://twitter.c…

In Germany we say that the EU has replaced the battleground with the negotiation table. That's what it's got the Nobel peace prize for and I think it deserved it.

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#55
post #23

That's small money for the Google. Last year they gave Google €4.34bn fine and in year 2017 they gave Google €2.42bn fine.

It's probably what they would normally pay in taxes if it wasn't for the current tax evasion schemes in play.

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#56
post #45

I don't know, I see the super state that the EU wants to become as scary as the super tech company people fear in Google. Also, making it hard to change browsers is not the same as prohibiting changing browsers. Some things are hard to change in Linux too, but I am sure for different reasons that are the result of how they pile on top of each other. The EU could use a cash infusion though given its current economic s…

> Some things are hard to change in Linux too, but I am sure for different reasons that are the result of how they pile on top of each other.

The problem isn't technical debt. It would be a company making billions on something that's "hard to change", and than brush it off as technical debt ;)

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#57
post #23

That's small money for the Google. Last year they gave Google €4.34bn fine and in year 2017 they gave Google €2.42bn fine.

To my knowledge each country within the EU can also seperately fine Google. It could add up very quickly. Personally i also think getting fined constantly is not a reliable business model. :)

It's a risk / reward thing, if getting fined for less than what they earned (both in actual money and in removing competition from the equation) then it's worth the risk.

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#58
post #34
post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I guess the difference is market share...

And the fact that iOS is installed on devices made by Apple itself. Android is the OS used by different phone manufacturers.

If iOS would have the marketshare of Android, it would be hit by the same regulations.

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#59
post #20
post #15

Slap on the wrist.

more like a part of the wrist itself. They are racking up $7B in fines at the moment

- "Let's make rules that cripple our competitors and see how long we can get away with it."

- "What can we earn?"

- "Billions."

- "What's it going to cost?"

- "Less than what we're going to make."

- "Let's do it!"

Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising

#60
post #36

Earlier quoted context omitted.

GDPR is quite good actually, we will just need to find a way to use its power for good.

It's good for US tech because it is yet another cost and restriction EU startups have to face before they can grow to scale and profitability.

Protecting your customer's privacy is already a "cost and restriction" regardless of where you live; is this how you feel about all the regulation you have to conform to if you're processing payments?
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