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Google’s advertising practices targeted by EU antitrust probe
EU antitrust regulators have sought information from advertisers regarding Google's advertising technology practices, a European Commission document seen by Reuters shows.
Spain’s new Google and Tobin taxes to generate about €1 billion this year
Spain’s new taxes on digital and financial services, approved last year, came into force on Saturday (16 January). The first collection is expected in March or April, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
Spain planning reforms to access EU funding sooner
The Spanish government is currently drafting a detailed “road map” of reforms – including changes to pensions and the country's labour law – in order to speed up access to EU funding and mitigate the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.
German law aims to tackle the market power of digital giants
Germany is modernising its competition law to stand up to digital corporations. In the future, the Cartel Office will be able to act faster and tougher when companies dominate the market. Europe can learn from this. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Blacklist prohibitions to be ‘very limited’ to large platforms, Commission says
The scope of online platforms that will come under new regulatory prohibitions as part of the European Commission's forthcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA) will be narrowly targeted to a set of 'big operators,' the EU executive has revealed.
Google’s last-ditch plea to Commission: Our EU services are at risk in Digital Markets Act
Google has warned that features used across the firm's Maps services are at risk of being dropped in the EU should the Commission introduce prohibitions against certain types of activity in the platform economy as part of the upcoming Digital Markets Act (DMA).
France to levy tax on digital giants before Biden administration takes office
France confirmed on Wednesday it will levy its tax on digital giants for 2020, following a warning by Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire in October that it would do so. With this decision, however, it risks US countermeasures at a time when it is scrambling for public money amid a devastating pandemic. EURACTIV's partner Ouest-France reports.
Breton reveals details on gatekeeper criteria in Digital Markets Act
The EU's Internal Market Commissioner Thierry Breton has disclosed details on the forthcoming criteria for the definition of so-called 'gatekeeper platforms' as part of the hotly-anticipated Digital Markets Act, set to be proposed by the EU executive in early December.
Vestager distances Commission from option of ‘Big Tech Breakups’
The EU has the power to execute a potential breakup of global Big Tech giants, but it is not currently the "right thing to do," the EU's Vice-President for Digital Affairs, Margrethe Vestager, has said.
US slaps Google with antitrust suit, eyes possible breakup
The US government filed a blockbuster lawsuit accusing Google of maintaining an "illegal monopoly" in online search and advertising in the country's biggest antitrust case in decades -- opening the door to a potential breakup of the Silicon Valley titan.
Digital Services Act should avoid rules on ‘harmful’ content, Big Tech tells EU
New EU measures regulating the web should avoid, in the first instance, rules on the hosting of online content deemed "harmful" but not "illegal", a Brussels trade association representing the world's largest online platforms has said.
After Google copyright win, French publishers set sights on Apple
After having successfully struck a deal with Google, French publishing groups have now set their sights on fighting for better terms with another one of the Big Tech giants: Apple.
France to decide whether Google can be forced to negotiate ‘neighbouring rights’ with the press
The Paris Court of Appeal will rule Thursday (8 October) on whether the country's competition authority had the power to require Google to negotiate with the French press on so-called "neighbouring rights" which allow online newspaper publishers to be remunerated for publishing extracts of their articles on Google News. VideoPromoted content
What’s the European approach to trustworthy AI?
Artificial intelligence brings vast opportunities to transform industries and solve important challenges at scale. At the same time it also brings the responsibility to build AI that works for and has the trust of everyone.
Commission mulls restrictions on platform data use in Digital Services Act
Platform giants will be prohibited from using the data they collect online unless they make this data available for use by smaller platforms, according to a draft of blacklisted practices, seen by EURACTIV, as part of the European Commission's forthcoming Digital Services Act.
‘Content removal’ unlikely to be part of EU regulation on digital services, Jourova says
The European Commission has given its clearest indication yet that obligations on digital platforms to remove content are unlikely to feature in far-reaching EU efforts to regulate the web, due to be presented before the end of the year.
Google aims to run on carbon-free energy by 2030
Google aims to power its data centers and offices 24-7 using solely carbon-free electricity by 2030, its chief executive said, building on its previous goal of matching its energy use with 100% renewable energy.
Stakeholders jockey for influence in EU’s bid to regulate digital services
A broad spectrum of stakeholders have spoken out on EU plans to regulate the online ecosystem as part of its forthcoming Digital Services Act package, with fierce jockeying over the extent to which the EU will introduce new rules for the digital economy.
Le Maire hits out at Apple’s market dominance in EU
French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire criticised the dominance of foreign firms in European marketplaces on Tuesday (8 September), directly referencing US tech giant Apple's power in the digital arena and calling for the creation of more 'European champions.'
Vestager: Gatekeeper platforms shouldn’t control Europe’s online marketplaces
Europe's online marketplaces should not be controlled by a handful of dominant gatekeeper platforms, the EU's digital chief Margarethe Vestager has said, referring to her bid to reign in the market dominance of tech giants through the EU's forthcoming new competition tool.
EU launches ‘in-depth’ probe of Google bid for Fitbit
The European Commission launched an "in-depth investigation" on Tuesday (4 August) into whether US tech giant Google's planned €1.7 billion purchase of smartwatch maker Fitbit would give it an unfair market advantage.
Vestager calls for EU-US ‘common vision’ on platform competition policy
Worldwide jurisdictions and particularly the EU and the US should formulate "common visions" on how best to regulate competition in the platform economy, the Commission's digital chief Margrethe Vestager has said.
Facebook accused of ‘copy, acquire and kill’ tactics in US antitrust hearing
Social media giant Facebook has come in for heavy criticism as part of a US congressional hearing into the dominance of online tech platforms, being accused of ‘copy, acquire and kill’ tactics as part of its history in acquiring smaller...