Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't use third parties then. Problem solved!!
Don't use an iPhone then. Problem solved!!
Don't operate in the EU then. Problem solved!!
EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
211–220 of 351 posts
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#212Earlier quoted context omitted.
>interoperability requirements for messaging services, meaning outfits such as WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger Who will be decrypting WA and Signal message to pass them to Facebook Messanger?
Why would they need to decrypt anything? If they use open standards such as the signal protocol, there's no need to decrypt anything. https://signal.org/docs/
That’s fine but if the European parliament finds out that companies can comply with the legislation without making it easier for the governments to read traffic, then we can expect the legislation to change until it achieves that goal.
Even though it may not be the EU’s overtly stated main goal, it is nevertheless a goal of many aligned politicians there, and no doubt the perception among foolish politicians and bureaucrats that it will achieve that goal can account for some of their support, and if they don’t get what they want they will “fix” it until they do.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#213Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't use an iPhone then. Problem solved!!
It's difficult for an iPhone user to notice that apps they might want aren't available (unless they search the web and find references to an Android-only app that does what they want), but, even more so, it's very expensive for users to buy a new Android phone just to use that one app. Equally, when someone is considering buying a phone, they are unlikely to compare the lists of apps available for each platform when…
Similar logic can be applied when comparing app stores. Users aren't going to compare Company XYZ app store with Apple's app store line-by-line to see how they're missing out on having their data hoovered up for ads or other purposes. App Stores have high switching costs too. Apps won't be available on different stores, that would defeat the entire purpose of having the third-party store for the company wanting to escape Apple's rules.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#214Earlier quoted context omitted.
Don't use an iPhone then. Problem solved!!
Don't operate in the EU then. Problem solved!!
If we're going to continue to be pedantic about this, I live in America so I couldn't care less.
-edit-
As a general shareholder I care. But in that area I think Apple will figure out a solution that keeps the status quo. They're #1 for a reason.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#215I pray that this, especially the interoperability requirements comes through not only with teeth, but with claws and a ravenous hunger. I believe one of the key things that allow innovation to foster is beating down the rentseekers,i.e. enabling adversarial interoperability https://www.eff.org/fr/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interop... and making it easy for individuals to tinker and innovate without needing capital…
The stated aim is to reduce the need for complex antitrust cases, so yeah, chances are they will come with significant teeth - in the form of baseline requirements that you either clear or get automatically fined for.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#216I pray that this, especially the interoperability requirements comes through not only with teeth, but with claws and a ravenous hunger. I believe one of the key things that allow innovation to foster is beating down the rentseekers,i.e. enabling adversarial interoperability https://www.eff.org/fr/deeplinks/2019/10/adversarial-interop... and making it easy for individuals to tinker and innovate without needing capital…
There are serious fines attached ( up to 10% of global turnover, 20% for repeat offenders) so it will have plenty of teeth.
GDPR was up to 4%. As far as I know, this was never applied to anyone. I would expect the same here. Fines will likely be somewhat reasonable.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#217> mandates to allow users to install apps from third-party platforms Some people at Apple are getting a headache right now. Other companies that have been dabbling with the idea to lock down their OS probably too. If this happens my next phone might even be an iPhone.
Apple literally begged for this hammer to fall, ignoring calls for openness for 15 years and openly mocking efforts to get them to play ball (like the recent Dutch case, to which they responded by amending rules on dating apps, blatantly ignoring the spirit of the ruling).
I expect they employ enough smart people that they prepared for this moment of reckoning despite the hubris of their leadership.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#218Did I interpret correctly that I’ll soon be able to install a multi-protocol IM app on my iPhone without going through the App Store ? I can barely believe it. It looks monumental in terms of competition potential.
The "soon" has to be interpreted in a political context, so we're likely talking a few years. FAANG will put their lobbyists on overdrive to get extensions to whichever cut-off date is approved.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#219I‘m not sure if this is a good thing. Despite email being an open standard we have now the situation that most emails are processed by either Google or Microsoft. When the same happens to Matrix we will have a situation where it’s so hard to make your own home server that nobody wants to do it anymore.
Re: EU negotiators agree new rules to rein in tech giants
#220> mandates to allow users to install apps from third-party platforms Some people at Apple are getting a headache right now. Other companies that have been dabbling with the idea to lock down their OS probably too. If this happens my next phone might even be an iPhone.
I had the same thought. Apple makes great hardware and the main thing that was holding me back from getting one was their heavy handed approach on what applications I am allowed to install on my device and from what source. If this works I would probably go for it.
It doesn’t allow people to install abusive and spyware apps on their spouse’s, girlfriend’s, coworker’s, roommate’s, and children’s devices… not to mention harmful ones on your own… that’s a feature.
If you really want some nasty stuff on your phone for some reason you can always write it yourself or find something open source and install it with Xcode. You are free to do this; the idea that you are not is a myth regurgitated by haters who don’t think for themselves. Just good luck doing it on someone else’s iPhone without their permission.