Apple hit with $162 million French antitrust fine over privacy tool : privacy

[+] [email protected] 21 points 2 months ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

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[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Its not the EUs fault that US companies keep breaking the law. Don't break the law, don't get fined. It really is simple. EU companies aren't getting these fines.

[+] [email protected] 6 points 2 months ago* (last edited 1 month ago) (1 children)

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[–] [email protected] -2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (2 children)

No. The GDPR is an all encompassing law, the logic of which being giving people THE CHOICE to let apps personalise their ads, or not. Apple takes away that choice by not allowing tracking by default on a per-app basis. This is what is at stake.

What Apple is doing is indeed disrespecting the spirit of the law by taking away the choice of being tracked, while also damaging EU businesses who rely on advertising because believe it or not, there are many small app creators as well as small advertising companies operating in the EU.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (2 children)

Uh, no. GDPR is about how private data is stored, handled, and removed - and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent. The consent is only a requirement if data is being sent to third parties - not sending data to third parties is perfectly fine and almost encouraged.

Source: working heavily with PII and talking to data privacy lawyers quite often

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Close but no cigar. It's also about collecting as little data as possible. Company can be sued or fined if a data collection is deemed excessive.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago

You are right, and this adds to my point.

[–] [email protected] -1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

and if it could be sent to third parties then only with the user’s consent.

You literally said it. Apple removes this option.

Why are you even upset? Its not like you're being forced to allow your data to be transmitted. The GDPR wants a standardised way of choosing which apps can track you and which don't, and Apple is out of the norm. You're just upset because the EU is forcing apple to standardise, is that it? Were you also upset when the EU forced apple to adopt USB-C too? You're literally complaining about having more choice.

Also, I cannot shake off the feeling that everyone in this sub is just shilling allowing a massive US conglomerate to exploit all digital ad revenue on EU soil, while local smaller companies get jack.

It would be like some EU car manufacturer selling electric cars in the US that van only be charged using proprietary chargers from the EU. Surely consumers would be upset at the lack of choice, and with reason.

Or maybe not. After all, tesla was allowed to do just that for a very long time. In any case, the EU is opening business opportunities (or rather, re-opening them) by shutting down a monopolistic practice that harms competition. The US refuses to make use of their antitrust laws, so we have to do it for you. You're welcome.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Did you read past that sentence?

I am in no way trying to support Apple but perhaps you should reflect on the very questions and statements you’re making.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

I did, but what you said is incorrect.

Not giving away your data isn't encouraged and I challenge you to point out where in the law does that say. It would be stupid to even include such a passage because it would be a blatant attack on the advertising industry and the EU is a neoliberal pro-capitalist institution that wants businesses to operate inside the bloc.

And I say it again, this is a niche community, but a lot of people like targeted advertising.

I know, because I hate advertising and I preach to everyone around me that they should just reject all tracking and some have told me "but I want to see relevant ads. If I have to see ads they might as well be relevant to me." which is a totally fair point.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I can’t tell if you’re deliberately trolling or not but here you go:

Data minimization is a key principle of the GDPR. It requires organizations to collect and process only the personal data that is necessary for their specified purposes. It explicitly addresses data minimization in Article 5(1)(c) GDPR, which states that personal data shall be: “adequate, relevant and limited to what is necessary in relation to the purposes for which they are processed (‘data minimization’).”

Here https://usercentrics.com/knowledge-hub/data-minimization/

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) (1 children)

Did you just read "Data minimization" and assume it means that data collection should be minimized at all times?

There's a reason why when you fill the GDPR consent popup all advertising companies have the "legitimate interest" on by default, because it falls under the "data that is necessary for their specified purposes", which in their case means the purpose of displaying relevant ads and paying the app developer some money for it. And even then, you're allowed to turn that legitimate interest OFF.

I'm the one who's not sure if you're trolling or just a shill. How many rubles are they paying you?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Thanks for mentioning what you did about “legitimate interest” - at least now it’s clear you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’d suggest reading up on it, looking at cookie banners on GDPR-compliant websites, and talking to privacy lawyers or people that regularly work in this space as a starting point. Have a good day!

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 months ago

I mean, I disagree, but thanks. Good dialogue.

[+] [email protected] 12 points 2 months ago (2 children)

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Not even a slap on the wrist

Apple made $33B in revenue in Europe for the last quarter of 2024. That is about $2B a week or $360M a day.

The fine of $160M by the French gov is not even half a day of European revenue.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

That's roughly the equivalent of a $100 fine for someone who makes 75k

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago (1 children)

They went so far as to say that they regret it but the decision didn’t impose any change of behavior. That’s as much of a shrug as you can officially get.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 months ago

And it was the advertisers who complained and won this case. This might still be a win for data privacy, if Apple leaves control over ads in the users' hands.

[–] _cryptagion 4 points 2 months ago

It added that the privacy tool "particularly penalized smaller publishers," as they depend to a large extent on the collection of third-party data to fund their businesses.

If your business depends on collecting the private data of users to sell to other companies, then you don’t deserve to exist as a business. I don’t care if these are the “little guys”, the entire ad business is a parasitical industry.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

You want to brag about civil rights? Here in America some guy filibustered for a long time. Well it wasn't a filibuster, more of a really long speech. But he really showed the fascists he could talk for a really long time. Take that France.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 months ago

That’s just one of the dumbest reasons to sue Apple…

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 months ago (1 children)

I find it pathetic. If politicians wanted to stop these violation they could. If I have a restaurant in town and the antitrust penalties is, by law, a maximum of 10% of my profits... considering a court ruling takes some 5-7 years that is an actual some 2% fine. What incentive is that from me to get rid of all my competition in town!? I would not stop my illegal practices even if fines where 10 times that!!

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 months ago

What about shutting down their bussiness if they fail to comply.

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