Google is getting into banking with the search giant set to offer checking accounts next year
Google will offer checking accounts next year as it partners with financial institutions including Citigroup, representing Big Tech’s boldest move yet into consumer banking.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/13/google-reportedly-offering-checking-accounts-next-year.html
#google #bank #why #deletegoogle #thinkabout #privacy #wtf #antitrust #totally_unrelated
Google will offer checking accounts next year as it partners with financial institutions including Citigroup, representing Big Tech’s boldest move yet into consumer banking.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/13/google-reportedly-offering-checking-accounts-next-year.html
#google #bank #why #deletegoogle #thinkabout #privacy #wtf #antitrust #totally_unrelated
CNBC
Google is getting into banking with the search giant set to offer checking accounts next year
Google will become the latest technology company to wade into banking with the search giant set to offer checking accounts next year, a source says.
DuckDuckGo Beat Bing to Become Android’s Main Google Alternative in Europe
https://beebom.com/duckduckgo-beat-bing-to-become-androids-main-google-alternative-in-europe/
Following the European Commission’s antitrust ruling against Google last March, the US tech giant is being forced to offer Android users in the EU multiple search engine options to choose from. As part of the plans, people in the region will get to choose their default search engine from at least four options while setting up their Android devices from March 1.
While one of the options will, obviously, be Google itself, the others would vary from one country to another based on the money these operators are willing to pay Google to get on the so-called ‘Choice Screen’ – the options list that was designed in consultation with the European Commission and, will be presented to Android handset users in the region when setting up their device for the first time.
Now that the highest bidders have been announced, Microsoft’s Bing seems to have lost out to the independent, privacy-focused service, DuckDuckGo, which has carved out a niche for itselfamong netizens concerned about their online privacy. According to the official list, DuckDuckGo will be an option in all the EU countries, while Bing will be conspicuous by its absence. The only place in Europe where Microsoft’s search engine will be offered is the UK, where DuckDuckGo and Info.com will be the other third-party options. You can hop over to the official Android blog to see the entire list or know more about the Choice Screen.
It’s worth noting here that Ecosia, a search engine run by an environmental advocacy group that claims to plant trees around the world with its search profits, boycotted the entire auction process, saying that Google’s actions violated “the spirit of the EU ruling”. In a press statement, its CEO and founder Christian Kroll further said that the company will register an official complaint with EU legislators against the US tech giant
#ddg #duckduckgo #google #android #antitrust #eu
https://beebom.com/duckduckgo-beat-bing-to-become-androids-main-google-alternative-in-europe/
Following the European Commission’s antitrust ruling against Google last March, the US tech giant is being forced to offer Android users in the EU multiple search engine options to choose from. As part of the plans, people in the region will get to choose their default search engine from at least four options while setting up their Android devices from March 1.
While one of the options will, obviously, be Google itself, the others would vary from one country to another based on the money these operators are willing to pay Google to get on the so-called ‘Choice Screen’ – the options list that was designed in consultation with the European Commission and, will be presented to Android handset users in the region when setting up their device for the first time.
Now that the highest bidders have been announced, Microsoft’s Bing seems to have lost out to the independent, privacy-focused service, DuckDuckGo, which has carved out a niche for itselfamong netizens concerned about their online privacy. According to the official list, DuckDuckGo will be an option in all the EU countries, while Bing will be conspicuous by its absence. The only place in Europe where Microsoft’s search engine will be offered is the UK, where DuckDuckGo and Info.com will be the other third-party options. You can hop over to the official Android blog to see the entire list or know more about the Choice Screen.
It’s worth noting here that Ecosia, a search engine run by an environmental advocacy group that claims to plant trees around the world with its search profits, boycotted the entire auction process, saying that Google’s actions violated “the spirit of the EU ruling”. In a press statement, its CEO and founder Christian Kroll further said that the company will register an official complaint with EU legislators against the US tech giant
#ddg #duckduckgo #google #android #antitrust #eu
Beebom
DuckDuckGo Emerges as the Biggest Threat to Google in Europe | Beebom
Following the European Commission's antitrust ruling against Google last March, the US tech giant is being forced to offer Android users in the EU
Apple’s App Store Draws Antitrust Scrutiny in European Union
After complaints from rivals including Spotify, European authorities will investigate Apple’s App Store.
LONDON — Apple’s App Store helped usher in the smartphone economy, leading to the birth of now-ubiquitous services such as Instagram, Uber and Candy Crush, and providing a transformative new way for people to shop from their phones.
But for companies that wanted to offer their products through Apple’s digital store, there has always been a catch: To reach customers, they had to agree to Apple’s terms and conditions, including sharing certain data with the company and giving it a percentage of any future sales made through the iPhone or iPad app.
Now European regulators are questioning whether Apple’s terms go too far.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/business/apple-app-store-european-union-antitrust.html
#Apple #Antitrust #eu
After complaints from rivals including Spotify, European authorities will investigate Apple’s App Store.
LONDON — Apple’s App Store helped usher in the smartphone economy, leading to the birth of now-ubiquitous services such as Instagram, Uber and Candy Crush, and providing a transformative new way for people to shop from their phones.
But for companies that wanted to offer their products through Apple’s digital store, there has always been a catch: To reach customers, they had to agree to Apple’s terms and conditions, including sharing certain data with the company and giving it a percentage of any future sales made through the iPhone or iPad app.
Now European regulators are questioning whether Apple’s terms go too far.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/business/apple-app-store-european-union-antitrust.html
#Apple #Antitrust #eu
Facebook executives could be deposed by FTC in antitrust probe, report says
The US Federal Trade Commission is reportedly considering taking sworn legal testimony from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg could be asked by the Federal Trade Commission to provide sworn legal testimony as part of a yearlong antitrust probe conducted by the agency, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Last year, Facebook revealed that the FTC had launched an antitrust investigation into the company. The agency is reportedly focusing on whether Facebook's purchases of companies such as photo service Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp were part of the social media giant's strategy to stifle competition.
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-executives-could-be-deposed-by-ftc-in-antitrust-probe-report-says/
#facebook #ftc #antitrust
The US Federal Trade Commission is reportedly considering taking sworn legal testimony from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg.
Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg could be asked by the Federal Trade Commission to provide sworn legal testimony as part of a yearlong antitrust probe conducted by the agency, The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday.
Last year, Facebook revealed that the FTC had launched an antitrust investigation into the company. The agency is reportedly focusing on whether Facebook's purchases of companies such as photo service Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp were part of the social media giant's strategy to stifle competition.
https://www.cnet.com/news/facebook-executives-could-be-deposed-by-ftc-in-antitrust-probe-report-says/
#facebook #ftc #antitrust
Microsoft President Met With U.S. Antitrust Committee Investigating Apple and Expressed Concerns Over App Store
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg are all set to participate in an antitrust hearing next Monday held by the United States House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee as part of an ongoing antitrust investigation on competition in digital markets.
Ahead of the hearing, the committee spoke with Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith, with The Information sharing details on the virtual meeting.
The committee wanted to talk with Smith so he could "provide Microsoft's perspective as a big tech company" formerly involved in antitrust regulation over Windows, but Smith also reportedly shared Microsoft's concerns with the way Apple operates the App Store.
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/20/microsoft-antitrust-committee-apple-app-store/
#apple #antitrust
Apple CEO Tim Cook, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, Alphabet/Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg are all set to participate in an antitrust hearing next Monday held by the United States House Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee as part of an ongoing antitrust investigation on competition in digital markets.
Ahead of the hearing, the committee spoke with Microsoft president and chief legal officer Brad Smith, with The Information sharing details on the virtual meeting.
The committee wanted to talk with Smith so he could "provide Microsoft's perspective as a big tech company" formerly involved in antitrust regulation over Windows, but Smith also reportedly shared Microsoft's concerns with the way Apple operates the App Store.
https://www.macrumors.com/2020/07/20/microsoft-antitrust-committee-apple-app-store/
#apple #antitrust
Slack Accuses Microsoft of Illegally Crushing Competition
The complaint, filed in Europe, threatens Microsoft’s recent ability to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Microsoft is undeniably one of the Big Tech elite, given its size, wealth and stock market value. But the software giant has stood apart from Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple in one important respect: Microsoft, once the bully of the tech world, has escaped antitrust scrutiny so far.
Now Slack Technologies, whose popular chat and collaboration software has become embedded in the daily routines of millions of workers at thousands of companies, is hoping to change that.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/technology/slack-microsoft-antitrust.html
#europe #microsoft #antitrust
The complaint, filed in Europe, threatens Microsoft’s recent ability to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Microsoft is undeniably one of the Big Tech elite, given its size, wealth and stock market value. But the software giant has stood apart from Google, Facebook, Amazon and Apple in one important respect: Microsoft, once the bully of the tech world, has escaped antitrust scrutiny so far.
Now Slack Technologies, whose popular chat and collaboration software has become embedded in the daily routines of millions of workers at thousands of companies, is hoping to change that.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/22/technology/slack-microsoft-antitrust.html
#europe #microsoft #antitrust
NY Times
Slack Accuses Microsoft of Illegally Crushing Competition
The complaint, filed in Europe, threatens Microsoft’s recent ability to avoid regulatory scrutiny.
Brazil antitrust watchdog questions Facebook's WhatsApp payment fees
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s antitrust watchdog is asking Facebook Inc (FB.O) to explain the fee structure for its short-lived payments service launched in June in partnership with card processor Cielo SA (CIEL3.SA), according to a document seen by Reuters.
The service on Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging platform was blocked by Brazil’s central bank eight days after the launch.
Facebook charged merchants a 4% fee per transaction, above market prices, but transfers among individuals were free.
Cade, as the watchdog is known, said it wanted to understand the rationale for the fee and see if the deal prevented other card processors from joining the payment platform as Cielo dominates Brazil’s market with a 40% share.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-brazil/brazil-antitrust-watchdog-questions-facebooks-whatsapp-payment-fees-idUSKCN24S2QQ
#brazil #whatsapp #antitrust
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil’s antitrust watchdog is asking Facebook Inc (FB.O) to explain the fee structure for its short-lived payments service launched in June in partnership with card processor Cielo SA (CIEL3.SA), according to a document seen by Reuters.
The service on Facebook’s WhatsApp messaging platform was blocked by Brazil’s central bank eight days after the launch.
Facebook charged merchants a 4% fee per transaction, above market prices, but transfers among individuals were free.
Cade, as the watchdog is known, said it wanted to understand the rationale for the fee and see if the deal prevented other card processors from joining the payment platform as Cielo dominates Brazil’s market with a 40% share.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-facebook-brazil/brazil-antitrust-watchdog-questions-facebooks-whatsapp-payment-fees-idUSKCN24S2QQ
#brazil #whatsapp #antitrust
Telegram is the latest company to file an EU antitrust complaint against Apple
Big-time app developers are piling on to fight against the app store.
If big tech thought that its antitrust reckoning would end with yesterday’s hearings, it’ll have its optimism sorely dented by what’s likely to follow. A number of smaller players are lobbing grenades over the fence in the hope of forcing regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to intervene. Today, secure messaging app #Telegram is joining in, filing a formal #antitrust complaint to the European Union’s competition authority.
As the Financial Times points out, it’s the third big name, after Spotify and Rakuten, which has lobbied the EU to do something about the App Store’s lock-in and 30 percent commission. And here, as then, the general sentiment is that the commission is too high, and that not allowing users to download apps from other sources is harming competition.
https://www.engadget.com/telegram-eu-antitrust-complaint-102004026.html
#eu #apple
Big-time app developers are piling on to fight against the app store.
If big tech thought that its antitrust reckoning would end with yesterday’s hearings, it’ll have its optimism sorely dented by what’s likely to follow. A number of smaller players are lobbing grenades over the fence in the hope of forcing regulators on both sides of the Atlantic to intervene. Today, secure messaging app #Telegram is joining in, filing a formal #antitrust complaint to the European Union’s competition authority.
As the Financial Times points out, it’s the third big name, after Spotify and Rakuten, which has lobbied the EU to do something about the App Store’s lock-in and 30 percent commission. And here, as then, the general sentiment is that the commission is too high, and that not allowing users to download apps from other sources is harming competition.
https://www.engadget.com/telegram-eu-antitrust-complaint-102004026.html
#eu #apple
Exclusive: Urged on by central bank, China weighs antitrust probe into Alipay, WeChat Pay - sources
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s top antitrust agency is looking at whether to launch a probe into Alipay and WeChat Pay, prompted by the central bank which argues the digital payment giants have used their dominant positions to quash competition, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The State Council’s anti-trust committee has been gathering information on Alipay, owned by Ant Group which in turn is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N), as well as on Tencent Holdings Ltd’s (0700.HK) WeChat Pay for more than a month, they said.
Any investigation would likely dampen enthusiasm for Ant Group’s planned dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai that is seeking a valuation of more than $200 billion.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alipay-wechat-pay-china-exclusive/exclusive-urged-on-by-central-bank-china-weighs-antitrust-probe-into-alipay-wechat-pay-sources-idUSKCN24W0XD
#asia #china #alipay #wechat #antitrust
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s top antitrust agency is looking at whether to launch a probe into Alipay and WeChat Pay, prompted by the central bank which argues the digital payment giants have used their dominant positions to quash competition, sources with knowledge of the matter said.
The State Council’s anti-trust committee has been gathering information on Alipay, owned by Ant Group which in turn is an affiliate of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd (BABA.N), as well as on Tencent Holdings Ltd’s (0700.HK) WeChat Pay for more than a month, they said.
Any investigation would likely dampen enthusiasm for Ant Group’s planned dual listing in Hong Kong and Shanghai that is seeking a valuation of more than $200 billion.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-alipay-wechat-pay-china-exclusive/exclusive-urged-on-by-central-bank-china-weighs-antitrust-probe-into-alipay-wechat-pay-sources-idUSKCN24W0XD
#asia #china #alipay #wechat #antitrust
Reuters
Exclusive: China's central bank urges antitrust probe into Alipay, WeChat Pay - sources
SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (Reuters) - China’s top antitrust agency is looking at whether to launch a probe into Alipay and WeChat Pay, prompted by the central bank which argues the digital payment giants have used their dominant positions to quash competition,…
That guy yelling during the antitrust hearing this week? Google funds him
In the antitrust hearing this week, Rep. Jim Jordan hectored Google CEO Sundar Pichai about rigging search results to help Democrats and hurt conservatives. Who would have known that Jordan is Pichai’s beneficiary
When the House Judiciary’s antitrust subcommittee hosted the big tech CEOs earlier this week, the hearing veered off into chaos several times. Each time it was caused by the hysterics of the GOP’s resident attack dog, Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan had no obvious understanding of, or interest in, tech antitrust issues, but used his time to harangue the CEOs about their companies’ alleged censorship of conservative viewpoints (an old saw that shows up every time Congress talks to tech)—particularly Google.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90535573/that-guy-yelling-during-the-antitrust-hearing-this-week-google-funds-him
#us #google #antitrust #hearing
In the antitrust hearing this week, Rep. Jim Jordan hectored Google CEO Sundar Pichai about rigging search results to help Democrats and hurt conservatives. Who would have known that Jordan is Pichai’s beneficiary
When the House Judiciary’s antitrust subcommittee hosted the big tech CEOs earlier this week, the hearing veered off into chaos several times. Each time it was caused by the hysterics of the GOP’s resident attack dog, Jim Jordan of Ohio.
Jordan had no obvious understanding of, or interest in, tech antitrust issues, but used his time to harangue the CEOs about their companies’ alleged censorship of conservative viewpoints (an old saw that shows up every time Congress talks to tech)—particularly Google.
https://www.fastcompany.com/90535573/that-guy-yelling-during-the-antitrust-hearing-this-week-google-funds-him
#us #google #antitrust #hearing
Google accused by developer of retaliation for cooperating with House antitrust investigation
Blix, maker of an email app, was kicked off Google’s Play Store Friday.
Google kicked an email app off its Play Store Friday, just days after its developers revealed they were cooperating with House lawmakers who questioned the tech giants’ chief executives during a landmark tech antitrust hearing earlier this week.
The founders of Blix, the maker of the “BlueMail” app, say they believe the move was retaliation for their outspokenness on antitrust issues. They said Google had not previously warned them about the move.
“We have been developing for the Google Play Store for more than six years, but we woke up this morning to find ourselves kicked out with no notice,” Blix co-founder Ben Volach said in an interview Friday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/31/google-accused-antitrust-retaliation/
#google #antitrust
Blix, maker of an email app, was kicked off Google’s Play Store Friday.
Google kicked an email app off its Play Store Friday, just days after its developers revealed they were cooperating with House lawmakers who questioned the tech giants’ chief executives during a landmark tech antitrust hearing earlier this week.
The founders of Blix, the maker of the “BlueMail” app, say they believe the move was retaliation for their outspokenness on antitrust issues. They said Google had not previously warned them about the move.
“We have been developing for the Google Play Store for more than six years, but we woke up this morning to find ourselves kicked out with no notice,” Blix co-founder Ben Volach said in an interview Friday.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2020/07/31/google-accused-antitrust-retaliation/
#google #antitrust
Washington Post
- The Washington Post
To Head Off Regulators, Google Makes Certain Words Taboo
The Markup obtained internal documents that coach new employees to avoid creating “very real legal risks” in using words like “market” and “networkeffects”
As Google faces at least four major antitrust investigations on two continents, internal documents obtained by The Markup show its parent company, Alphabet, has been preparing for this moment for years, telling employees across the massive enterprise that certain language is off limits in all written communications, no matter how casual.
https://themarkup.org/google-the-giant/2020/08/07/google-documents-show-taboo-words-antitrust
#google #antitrust
The Markup obtained internal documents that coach new employees to avoid creating “very real legal risks” in using words like “market” and “networkeffects”
As Google faces at least four major antitrust investigations on two continents, internal documents obtained by The Markup show its parent company, Alphabet, has been preparing for this moment for years, telling employees across the massive enterprise that certain language is off limits in all written communications, no matter how casual.
https://themarkup.org/google-the-giant/2020/08/07/google-documents-show-taboo-words-antitrust
#google #antitrust
themarkup.org
To Head Off Regulators, Google Makes Certain Words Taboo – The Markup
The Markup obtained internal documents that coach new employees to avoid creating “very real legal risks” in using words like “market” and “network effects”
Amazon faces antitrust probe in Canada
Canada’s Competition Bureau announced Friday it is launching an investigation into whether Amazon’s conduct on its marketplace has hurt consumers and companies that do business in the country.
The antitrust watchdog said its investigation is ongoing and “there is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time.” The bureau encouraged sellers and businesses to share information with investigators who are zeroing in on whether Amazon Canada is abusing its dominance in the market.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/14/amazon-faces-antitrust-probe-in-canada.html
#Canada #Amazon #antitrust
Canada’s Competition Bureau announced Friday it is launching an investigation into whether Amazon’s conduct on its marketplace has hurt consumers and companies that do business in the country.
The antitrust watchdog said its investigation is ongoing and “there is no conclusion of wrongdoing at this time.” The bureau encouraged sellers and businesses to share information with investigators who are zeroing in on whether Amazon Canada is abusing its dominance in the market.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/14/amazon-faces-antitrust-probe-in-canada.html
#Canada #Amazon #antitrust
German watchdog launches Amazon investigation - report
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s anti-trust authority has launched an investigation into Amazon’s relationship with third-party traders selling on its site, its head was quoted as saying on Sunday.
“We are currently investigating whether and how Amazon influences how traders set prices on the market-place,” Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily.
Germany is Amazon’s second-biggest market after the United States.
During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many stores were closed and shoppers flocked online, Mundt said there had been complaints that Amazon had blocked some traders because of allegedly overly high prices.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-germany-competition/german-watchdog-launches-amazon-investigation-report-idUSKCN25C0LW
#Europe #Germany #Amazon #Antitrust
BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany’s anti-trust authority has launched an investigation into Amazon’s relationship with third-party traders selling on its site, its head was quoted as saying on Sunday.
“We are currently investigating whether and how Amazon influences how traders set prices on the market-place,” Andreas Mundt, President of the Federal Cartel Office, told the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung daily.
Germany is Amazon’s second-biggest market after the United States.
During the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many stores were closed and shoppers flocked online, Mundt said there had been complaints that Amazon had blocked some traders because of allegedly overly high prices.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-germany-competition/german-watchdog-launches-amazon-investigation-report-idUSKCN25C0LW
#Europe #Germany #Amazon #Antitrust
Apple’s South Korea unit proposes $84 million to support small businesses following antitrust probe
Apple’s South Korean unit has proposed measures to address antitrust concerns and offered to provide 100 billion won ($84.02 million) worth of support programs for small businesses, consumers and others, the country’s competition watchdog said on Monday.
Apple Korea has been under investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission over allegations it abused its dominant position by forcing mobile carriers to pay for advertising and warranty repairs, the commission has said.
Apple has agreed to fix “unfair” terms with mobile carriers as part of its proposal, the KFTC said in a briefing. For example, Apple will discuss how to share advertising costs with telecoms firms, which will help reduce burdens to carriers, the KFTC said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/apple-korea-antitrust-probe-proposes-funds-to-support-small-businesses.html
#Asia #Korea #Apple #antitrust
Apple’s South Korean unit has proposed measures to address antitrust concerns and offered to provide 100 billion won ($84.02 million) worth of support programs for small businesses, consumers and others, the country’s competition watchdog said on Monday.
Apple Korea has been under investigation by the Korea Fair Trade Commission over allegations it abused its dominant position by forcing mobile carriers to pay for advertising and warranty repairs, the commission has said.
Apple has agreed to fix “unfair” terms with mobile carriers as part of its proposal, the KFTC said in a briefing. For example, Apple will discuss how to share advertising costs with telecoms firms, which will help reduce burdens to carriers, the KFTC said.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/08/24/apple-korea-antitrust-probe-proposes-funds-to-support-small-businesses.html
#Asia #Korea #Apple #antitrust