Phil1111 1,182 #1 Posted February 15, 2019 (edited) It's official: Silicon Valley's most important regulator is Europe. "That's the message from the decision late on Wednesday by the EU to push ahead with plans to impose tougher controls on Big Tech’s use of content they don’t own (read: digital copyright). Despite years of intense PR and behind-the-scenes lobbying, U.S. tech giants failed to convince European lawmakers to ditch their plans for new copyright rules. That matters for a whole host of reasons that Silicon Valley will have to digest in the weeks ahead. Most immediately, the move is a challenge to the business model of Google built around unfettered access to information online." More importantly, perhaps, it again signals Europe’s willingness to confront American tech on other fronts that affect the sector, in particular the ongoing debate over digital taxation. And then there's the first mover advantage: By pressing ahead with tough rules on issues from tax to privacy and copyright before the U.S., Europe is establishing its claim to be the de facto standard-setter for the emerging digital world. Keep in mind this isn't the EU's first crack at trying to tame the "Big Five." Last summer, the European Commission slapped a record €4.3 billion antitrust fine on Google for what it called "serious illegal behavior," a reference to the pressure the platform exerted on smartphone manufacturers to pre-install apps for its Android operating system. That penalty followed a €2.4 billion antitrust fine leveled against Google by the Commission in 2017 in connection with its online shopping business." The GOP has refused to regulate this sector. Has refused to address the powerful silicon valley lobby money in the beltway. Now the EU does. Big Tech’s Reckoning May Be Imminent After All "Not every Republican on the Judiciary Committee spent their entire time catering to Fox News and conservative talk radio.... House Democrats were even more persistent in questioning Pichai about his company’s data collection and privacy policies—a sign of what’s to come from the Judiciary Committee under Democratic leadership. Representative Ted Deutch spent his five minutes grilling the CEO about what information Google was collecting from its users, and whether the company believes it should be held accountable for the fake news and hate speech that are disseminated on its platforms, like YouTube. Incoming committee chair Jerry Nadler, meanwhile, focused on election interference, telling Pichai in his opening statement, “We should examine what Google is doing to stop hostile foreign powers from using its platform to spread false information to harm our political discourse.” These are the questions that the Judiciary Committee can be expected to pursue once the Democrats take charge in January: fake news, interference, and hate speech, but also privacy, data collection, and economic power." Edited February 15, 2019 by Phil1111 Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
