News Trending

The European Union has initiated investigations into major tech companies such as Meta, Apple, and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) over potential violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) introduced in 2022. If found guilty, these companies could face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and industry head Thierry Breton announced the investigations, focusing on allegations of anti-competitive practices by these tech giants. The DMA, which targets companies considered to be digital gatekeepers, aims to foster fair competition in the digital market.

The investigations are particularly focused on whether these companies are impeding fair competition, such as by limiting app communication with users, restricting user choice, or favoring their own services in search results. For instance, Apple faces scrutiny for its App Store policies, while Meta is being investigated for its advertising practices.

These investigations come shortly after Apple was fined €1.8 billion for competition law violations related to music streaming, and amid a landmark lawsuit in the United States accusing Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market.

Both Apple and Meta have responded, expressing willingness to engage with the investigation and asserting their compliance with the DMA. However, Alphabet has yet to comment on the matter.

The EU aims to complete the investigations within approximately 12 months, with a focus on ensuring open and contestable digital markets in Europe. The timing of these actions, just ahead of European Parliament elections, underscores the EU’s commitment to consumer protection and fair competition in the digital sphere.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Trending

A legal adviser to the European Court of Justice has recommended a reassessment of the ruling that permitted Apple to evade €13 billion in back taxes. The original decision, overturned three years ago, alleged that the Irish government had provided Apple with illegal tax breaks. Advocate General Giovanni Pitruzzella contends that the previous ruling overlooked crucial legal errors and failed to adequately assess methodological mistakes that, according to the European Commission, tainted the tax rulings in Apple’s favor. Although this legal opinion is not binding, the court typically leans towards such recommendations in the majority of cases.

Apple responded to the recent development, with a spokesperson emphasizing that the initial ruling explicitly stated that the company received no selective advantage or state aid. The tech giant believes this position should be upheld. In 2016, the European Commission determined that Apple had received preferential treatment from the Irish government, resulting in a significantly lower tax rate compared to other companies. The Commission argued that this amounted to illegal aid granted to Apple by the Irish state and symbolized its efforts to combat what it perceived as significant tax avoidance by multinational corporations.

The Irish government has consistently argued against the repayment of back taxes by Apple, asserting that the country’s loss was justified in making itself an appealing destination for large companies. Ireland, with one of the lowest corporate tax rates in the EU, serves as Apple’s regional base for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. While corporate tax rates fall under national jurisdiction, the EU wields substantial power in regulating state aid. In this case, the EU contended that Ireland, by applying very low tax rates to Apple, was providing an unfair subsidy.

Two years ago, the General Court, responsible for the initial ruling’s overturning, deemed the European Commission’s decision legally flawed. However, the recent recommendation from the advocate general suggests that this ruling itself may now face reconsideration, potentially reviving the debate over Apple’s back taxes.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Technology Trending

Following concerns about radiation levels, France’s digital minister, Jean-Noel Barrot, has announced that Apple will release a software update for iPhone 12 users in the country.

Sales of the iPhone 12 were temporarily halted in France due to excessive electromagnetic radiation detected by regulators, prompting Apple to address the issue with a specific software update for French users. The update will undergo testing by the radio frequency regulator (ANFR) before the iPhone 12 can be reintroduced to the French market.

Apple maintains that the radiation concerns stem from France’s unique testing protocol and do not pose a safety risk. This development has raised questions about the iPhone 12’s status in other countries. The World Health Organization has previously stated that low-level electromagnetic fields emitted by mobile phones are not harmful to humans.

Apple intends to contest the ANFR’s review, providing lab results to support its compliance with global emissions regulations. However, this issue may have implications for other EU countries, as regulators in Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany are now investigating similar concerns.

Picture Courtesy: Google/images are subject to copyright

News Technology

Netflix CEO Reed Hastings on Monday said that they will not be joining the Apple TV service. He had confirmed that his company will not sell subscriptions or offer existing content to customers through an Apple branded video streaming service expected for unveiling on March 25.

Hastings told the reporters at the company’s offices in Hollywood, “Apple’s a great company. We want to have people watch our shows on our services”. “We have chosen not to integrate with their service”, he added.

A television and video service was expected to be unveiled by Apple, at an event on March 25th. As per reports, the company might have as many as 11 shows ready to preview at the media gathering.

Image courtesy: cnbctv18.com / images are subject to copyright

News Technology

The Apple – Spotify war continues! Swedish audio streaming company finally calls the Tech giant a ‘monopolist’. Spotify had given complaints against Apple in the European Union, claiming that Apple is illegally involving in App store.

Apple is charging a 30 percent to the developers for subscriptions, and Spotify is not happy in this. It said that it’s designed to give Apple Music an unfair advantage in the marketplace. The Spotify had launched a website called Time to Play Fair, and had outlined the complaints against Apple.

Apple reacted to Spotify’s claims saying “wants all the benefits of a free app without being free”. Spotify reportedly said, “Every monopolist will suggest they have done nothing wrong and will argue that they have the best interests of competitors and consumers at heart”. “This is evident in Apple’s belief that Spotify’s users on iOS are Apple customers and not Spotify customers, which goes to the very heart of the issue with Apple”.

Spotify is a Swedish audio streaming platform that provides DRM-protected music and podcasts from record labels and media companies. As a freemium service, basic features are free with advertisements or automatic music videos, while additional features, such as improved streaming quality, are offered via paid subscriptions.

Image courtesy: pixabay.com / images are subject to copyright

Gadgets News Technology

Apple Inc has united up with Ant Financial Services Group and several local banks to offer interest-free financing. Apple hopes to revitalize sales in China, by the collaboration with Ant Financial which is the world’s largest financial-technology company.

It is its first such move in the country as it looks to boost waning smartphone sales. With this China website, apple comes with a new scheme in which the customers can pay 271 yuan ($40.31) monthly, for buying an iPhone XR and 362 yuan monthly for purchasing iPhone XS. The customers trading in old models can avail cheaper installments.

Interest-free financing schemes are offered for the customers who buys an Apple product worth a minimum of 4,000 yuan. They can pay the money with three, six, nine, 12 or 24 months, as the website says.

Ant Financial Services Group, formerly known as Alipay, is an affiliate company of the Chinese Alibaba Group. Ant Financial is the highest valued fintech company in the world, and the world’s most valuable unicorn (start-up) company, with a valuation of US$150 billion.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Gadgets News Technology

Apple Inc on Monday said that it will issue a software patch later this week for an error that allows iPhone users to hear the audio from users that have not yet accepted a video call. The bug, initially outlined by Apple product and review website 9to5Mac.com, was reported by several media outlets.

Apple announced the feature last summer, but then removed it from early test versions of its iOS 12 operating system. The bug appears to rely on Apple’s group video calling feature. Apple released the feature to the public in late October. An Apple statement quoted in US media said that the iPhone producer was aware of this issue and they have also found a fix that will be releasing later this week.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Entertainment Gadgets

Apple is preparing to release new over-ear headphones in 2019, combining HomePod and AirPods technology in high-end cans. The new headphones are expected to offer ‘studio-quality’ sound and ‘Hey Siri’ support. The higher-priced premium AirPods is said to be offering better noise-cancellation, and water resistance.

It is said that Apple is trying to increase the range that AirPods can work away from an iPhone or iPad.

According to Kuo, these high-end over-ear headphones will make Apple’s acoustic accessory lineup more complete. The name of these ‘over-the-ear headphones’ is yet to be announced by Apple.

Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright

Gadgets

Bill Murray and Sofia Coppola are reuniting for a new feature-length film named ‘On the Rocks’. The film leads with the story of a young mother who rejoins with her larger-than-life playboy father on an adventure through New York. “On the Rocks” is the first film to come out of the partnership between Apple and A24. The movie production will be starting in this Spring season at New York.

The details regarding the film’s debut and distribution is yet to be announced by Apple. Top Hollywood actors and filmmakers have been clustering to Apple to create content for Apple’s upcoming originals platform.


Sunaya Paison
Photo Courtesy: Google/ images are subject to copyright