Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads • Hacker News Board

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#31

Post by EMIRELADERO » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:56 PM UTC

aurareturn wrote: post #18

threeseed wrote: post #15

EU is becoming a very difficult place to do business. Marketplace was introduced in 2007, 15 years before the DMA set the guidance for the regulatory landscape. At the time there was no indiction that simply adding a popular and somewhat obvious feature would be seen as anti-competitive given that other classified ad platforms existed and were seemingly doing well. You have to wonder how many companies will be reluct…

Agreed. It feels like Europe's DMA is basically just a taxation on big American tech companies. There is a very fine line between over regulation and enough regulation to maximize efficiency.

So what would your opinion be if the US passed a similar law?

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#32

Post by miohtama » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:58 PM UTC

ancorevard wrote: post #28

Will future tech companies bother making their products available in the EU? Will it be worth it, or is just too big of a risk with uncertain outcomes?

For Facebook for sure, as they are eating the lunch of local medias by being able to serve smaller advertisers with more targeted campaigns.

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#33

Post by Etheryte » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:58 PM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #15

EU is becoming a very difficult place to do business. Marketplace was introduced in 2007, 15 years before the DMA set the guidance for the regulatory landscape. At the time there was no indiction that simply adding a popular and somewhat obvious feature would be seen as anti-competitive given that other classified ad platforms existed and were seemingly doing well. You have to wonder how many companies will be reluct…

This isn't even remotely what happened here. Similar to the case where Apple was fined, Meta had years to comply with the new regulations — they simply chose not to and put their fingers in their ears instead. It's naive to think Meta didn't know it was breaking the law, they simply hoped they could get away with a fine that was smaller than the profit made.

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#34

Post by tossandthrow » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:59 PM UTC

aurareturn wrote: post #30

tossandthrow wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is absolutely not the case: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.BUS.EASE.XQ Yes, the legislative landscape changes - just because you had fists from before it became illegal to hit people it doesn't mean that you are entitled to do so. Also: One should expect Facebook given 3 years to comply would be able to do so.

What is FB going to do? Remove any reference to Marketplace on Facebook.com and move it to fbmarketplace.com?

They employ a bunch of the smartest people in the world - who all probably want to do legal stuff. I am sure they can figure out what to do to follow the law in the jurisdictions they work in.

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#35

Post by caseyy » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:59 PM UTC

threeseed wrote: post #15

EU is becoming a very difficult place to do business. Marketplace was introduced in 2007, 15 years before the DMA set the guidance for the regulatory landscape. At the time there was no indiction that simply adding a popular and somewhat obvious feature would be seen as anti-competitive given that other classified ad platforms existed and were seemingly doing well. You have to wonder how many companies will be reluct…

I think EU is just building Meta’s monopolistic moat. It creates a chilling effect on challenger tech companies who may not be able to pay these fines. And yet they still know they might be arbitrarily fined.

Oh the other hand, one might say — “don’t be monopolistic and you won’t have to pay the fines”. But does this stand up under scrutiny? But how does a company compete with a monopoly without having any monopolistic traits? Duopolies by definition are very close to monopolies.

It’s like the EU is saying “no one be like these guys, but please would someone compete with them for the sake of our market!”

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#36

Post by Etheryte » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 4:59 PM UTC

aurareturn wrote: post #30

tossandthrow wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

That is absolutely not the case: https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/IC.BUS.EASE.XQ Yes, the legislative landscape changes - just because you had fists from before it became illegal to hit people it doesn't mean that you are entitled to do so. Also: One should expect Facebook given 3 years to comply would be able to do so.

What is FB going to do? Remove any reference to Marketplace on Facebook.com and move it to fbmarketplace.com?

This is not what the issue is about. The problem is that Meta is giving preference to their own ads over third party ads, not that the platforms reference one another.

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#37

Post by doublerabbit » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 5:00 PM UTC

aurareturn wrote: post #18

threeseed wrote: post #15

EU is becoming a very difficult place to do business. Marketplace was introduced in 2007, 15 years before the DMA set the guidance for the regulatory landscape. At the time there was no indiction that simply adding a popular and somewhat obvious feature would be seen as anti-competitive given that other classified ad platforms existed and were seemingly doing well. You have to wonder how many companies will be reluct…

Agreed. It feels like Europe's DMA is basically just a taxation on big American tech companies. There is a very fine line between over regulation and enough regulation to maximize efficiency.

> taxation on big American tech companies

And that's a bad thing how?

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#38

Post by ahmeneeroe-v2 » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 5:00 PM UTC

aurareturn wrote: post #27

ahmeneeroe-v2 wrote: post #20

I wonder if the next administration will put a stop to this EU trade war against US Big Tech, or if they will let specific companies (e.g. Meta & Google) continue to suffer due to a (perceived or real) bias against that admin during their 2016-2020 tenure and their political campaigns. I imagine at the very least that the company formerly known as Twitter will be protected.

Well, Tim Cook was talking to Trump about EU legal issues. Trump made public statements about it. One reason Meta and Google's stocks have not boomed after the election is they're seen as more liberal in Trump's circle.

Exactly what I was thinking. Apple is seen as neutral by Trump admin. X as an ally. And Meta/Google as enemies

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#39

Post by aurareturn » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 5:01 PM UTC

Etheryte wrote: post #36

aurareturn wrote: post #30

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What is FB going to do? Remove any reference to Marketplace on Facebook.com and move it to fbmarketplace.com?

This is not what the issue is about. The problem is that Meta is giving preference to their own ads over third party ads, not that the platforms reference one another.

The posted article is light on details. Is there another source that backs your statement?

Re: Meta Fined $843M by EU over Marketplace Ads

#40

Post by olliebrkr » Thu, Nov 14, 2024, 5:01 PM UTC

doublerabbit wrote: post #37

aurareturn wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Agreed. It feels like Europe's DMA is basically just a taxation on big American tech companies. There is a very fine line between over regulation and enough regulation to maximize efficiency.

> taxation on big American tech companies And that's a bad thing how?

Totally agree, it's not a bad thing. It's a large area of the world saying you do not dictate the rules.