EU unveils ‘revolutionary’ laws to curb big tech firms’ power
www.theguardian.com
Digital Markets Act aims to allow more competition and let consumers delete preloaded phone apps
  • New regulations will target six major tech companies to improve consumer experience and data privacy. These include Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, and Microsoft.
  • Pre-installed apps like weather and email that are difficult to delete will be disallowed, aiming to promote interoperability and reduce “gatekeeping” activities.
  • Companies will be prohibited from monetizing user data collected from phone apps for advertising purposes.
  • The regulations will encourage competition by allowing alternative payment systems, benefiting startups and consumers.
  • The European Commission aims to empower consumers and ensure tech giants adhere to European rules, providing immediate accountability for any issues.
  • ExLisper@linux.communityEnglish
    10·
    1 year ago

    You’re confusing start ups making phones with start ups offering services. If you want to sell phones yes, you can sell phones with AOSP or Lineage OS, no problem. If you’re a start up that sells Map application you’re competing with google and their app can’t be removed from phones that most people have. Most google apps can’t be removed. This is about equal access to the platform most people use, not offering alternative platform.

    • mannycalavera@feddit.ukEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Ok that’s strange I can uninstall and disable Google Maps just fine in my phone right now and install an alternative Map provider of I wanted. Didn’t need legislation to do it.

      • ExLisper@linux.communityEnglish
        10·
        1 year ago

        There’s a huge difference between things you can do on some devices where the manufacturer decided to allow it and things required by the legislation.

        Good thing you don’t need this legislation. 99% of other users will still benefit from it.

        • mannycalavera@feddit.ukEnglish
          1·
          1 year ago

          What’s the principle here? That manufactures aren’t allowed to tailor the user experience of their products? That doesn’t sound like good legislation. The equivalent would be if I wanted to bring my steering wheel from Toyota to my Audi because it promotes competition.

          The regulations will encourage competition by allowing alternative payment systems, benefiting startups and consumers.

          Car manufacturers must be compelled by the EU to provide pluggable and safe steering columns in cars to benefitting startups and consumers.

          Obviously such a thing wouldn’t happen because it wouldn’t benefit EU car manufacturers. But let’s not talk about that, eh?

          Let consumers vote with their feet. Let them choose alternatives that work for them. If there aren’t decent alternatives, build them. Why go heavy handed on legislation thinly veiled to extort money out of companies? Seriously why not build a competing payment system for the EU? The APIs are available and there’s tonnes of talented engineers in the EU. Start there. Build something better.