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European Union targets tech giants with new tax and content rules | AppleInsider

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&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.The European Union is planning to apply more restrictions on the activities and responsibilities of Apple and other major tech companies, EU digital policy and antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager has revealed, which could impact taxes, privacy, and online content. In its continuing attempts to rein in the power and influence of tech giants including Apple, Google, Facebook, and Amazon, the European Commission is introducing proposals intended to affect their activities. EU official Vestager hopes to use the proposals to fundamentally change the responsibilities of the companies, which in theory will go further than current laws currently cover. "It's a full complex of things. It's not done with just one piece of legislation," said Vestager in an interview by the Wall Street Journal. "After the first mandate and the first specific competition cases, what I have seen very clearly is that we need rigorous competition-law enforcement, but we also need regulation." The initiatives cover a number of areas, and have been outlined over the last few weeks by the EU and the European Commission. In early July, Vestager detailed three of the areas that are anticipated to be affected by new legislation, that are likely to be presented to the European Parliament before the end of 2020. One of the areas is to determine what the responsibilities of tech companies are regarding content posted by users. Currently under , the changes to the current Digital Services Act would update rules initially determined in 2000, which Vestager believes are already out of date. The Digital Service Act was made at a time "when no one could have foreseen the situation we're in today," said the competition chief, "that platforms would not just be channels, but full ecosystems where a lot of what is ongoing and monetized by the platform itself." Current rules insulate platforms like social media networks from being sued for controversial or deceitful content, but the situation has led to tech firms being slow to moderate user content. There have been suggestions of by lawmakers in both the EU and the United States to curtail misinformation, with the rules thought to be the EU's answer to the problem. Rather than demanding platforms suddenly become liable for content or fake goods put up for sale, Vestager suggests the rules would allow for the creation of redress mechanisms for removed content. As part of the same measures, companies operating such platforms would have to establish themselves as business entities within Europe to allow them to be "governed by these sets of rules," adds Vestager. Apple has already passed comment on the Digital Services Act proposals, suggesting the "limited liability regime has helped deliver choice and innovation," but simultaneously advising for any new rules to be flexible in nature. "What makes sense for public-facing, content-sharing platforms may not be appropriate or technically feasible for services used to facilitate private communications or storage," Apple continued. For competition, Vestager claims she wanted to have enhanced investigative powers to order companies within a sector to change how they behave, with a view to curbing monopolies and to "prevent new gatekeepers from arising." Legislation proposals also include measures to prevent major firms from crushing smaller competitors in the same market, an initiative inspired by a trio of laid against Google. The Commission is currently running a investigating Apple, specifically covering and the , with the latter particularly looking into whether Apple has created a "gatekeeper" role for itself. Another controversial element is digital taxation, which the EU is preparing to proceed with despite with US lawmakers over the matter. The Commission advised it would do so as it had repeatedly warned its own tax measures would be proposed if international discussions failed before the end of 2020. According to Vestager, such a digital tax that affects Apple and other large-scale multinational tech firms is justified because it is fair. "So many businesses have to work very hard to make a profit, and from that profit to then pay taxes," Vestager suggested. "They should not be met with competitors for capital, skilled employees and customers who do not contribute to society. That has nothing to do with where you come from, it has to do with doing business in an equal manner."said:"They should not be met with competitors for capital, skilled employees and customers who do not contribute to society. That has nothing to do with where you come from, it has to do with doing business in an equal manner."I didn’t realize that the only way to contribute to society was through paying taxes.&nbsp;I also chuckled at the poor wording that when read the wrong(?) way says, “customers who do not contribute to society.”They should just change their name to the "PU" and be done with it. Apple should pull out of the EU markets and let the crafty Germans and French devise the next Minitel. lol.It is a good thing the EU are pushing hard on this. Global tax laws are kept in tight control by/for the benefit of the super wealthy. They need modernising. EU will push hard, people will negotiate, reasonable outcome will be achieved.&nbsp;said:They should just change their name to the "PU" and be done with it. Apple should pull out of the EU markets and let the crafty Germans and French devise the next Minitel. lol.I don't get the joke.&nbsp; What is PU meant to stand for?said:said:They should just change their name to the "PU" and be done with it. Apple should pull out of the EU markets and let the crafty Germans and French devise the next Minitel. lol.I don't get the joke.&nbsp; What is PU meant to stand for?Plutonium?Please enable JavaScript to comment&nbsp;Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.Apple made considerable upgrades to the iPhone 14 Pro while making fewer than usual to the iPhone 14. Here's how the two similar-sized flagship iPhone models differ.Apple's iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have arrived. Here's how they stack up versus the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max.Apple's iPhone 14 is aimed at about the same market that the iPhone SE targets. Here's how it compares to the third-generation iPhone SE.Apple announced the second generation of AirPods Pro at its "Far Out" event on September 7. Here's how it compares to the first generation.&nbsp;LG's professional-grade UltraFine OLED Pro displays are heavily discounted this week, offering content professionals true 10-bit color and 99% Adobe RGB color gamut coverage in your choice of 27-inch or 32-inch sizes.Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.On Tuesday, Amazon released a pair of Kindles with USB-C, a new high-resolution display, and twice the storage of older models.Apple's iOS 16 makes the iPhone more customizable than ever. This is the ultimate guide on how to make the iPhone a more personal device.Apple's 2022 MacBook Air sports the new M2 chip and an all-new chassis. And it's up to $200 off, with upgraded models starting at just $1,279.New regulatory filings show that the Apple Watch Ultra has a battery that is 76% larger than that in the Series 8, and more than double the size of the small Apple Watch SE.Apple released the Apple Watch Series 8 alongside an updated Apple Watch SE on September 7. Here's how they compare with one another.High demand for the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max led to Apple server crashes in China as consumers placed over two million preorders in 24 hours.In iOS 16 Apple introduced Haptic Feedback to the iPhone keyboard. Here's how to use it.Apple's iOS 16 makes the iPhone more customizable than ever. This is the ultimate guide on how to make the iPhone a more personal device.It's been a rocky road to the iOS 16 launch. Here are the high-profile features that didn't debut in the initial release of Apple's operating system.Apple's annual update to its operating system brings new features and much-needed changes. Here are the stand-out features in iOS 16.Apple's "Far Out" event is on September 7. Beyond the new iPhone 14, here's what to expect from September's Apple event — and beyond.The second-generation Razer Kishi is here for iPhone users with a new design, better buttons, and a companion app. How does it stack up to the Backbone One?Less an overhaul and more refining what's already in place, iOS 16 is all about personalization on top of a retained solid foundation.With the SwitchEasy four-in-one MagPower multi-charger, you can power up all your gear with a single device — including your Apple Watch with an Apple-certified puck.The Benks Grand Pro Headphone Stand for AirPods Max is a welcome upgrade over the original. However, it introduces complexity where there was none before — while also ignoring an obvious problem.Keep tabs on the air quality of your home — including potentially deadly radon levels — with the Airthings View Plus.Apple didn't make a Magic Keyboard for iPad mini 6, and Lululook's Magnetic Keyboard perhaps acts as a testament to why.{{ summary }}{{{ reviewStars.html }}}

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;AppleInsider is supported by its audience and may earn commission as an Amazon Associate and affiliate partner on qualifying purchases. These affiliate partnerships do not influence our editorial content.The European Union is planning to apply more restrictions on the activities and responsibilities of Apple and other major tech companies, EU digital policy and antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager has revealed, which could impact taxes, privacy, and online content. In its continuing attempts to rein in the power and influence of tech giants including Apple, Google, Facebook,...

European Union targets tech giants with new tax and content rules | AppleInsider

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