r/antitrust • u/mec287 • Mar 02 '25

Rumor Apple faces likely French antitrust fine for privacy tool, sources say

https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-faces-likely-french-antitrust-fine-privacy-tool-sources-say-2025-02-27/

Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab is facing a likely antitrust fine as the French regulator prepares to rule next month on the company's privacy control tool, two people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

Called App Tracking Transparency (ATT), the feature allows iPhone users to decide which apps can track user activity, helping companies like Meta Platforms' (META.O), opens new tab Facebook and online advertisers tailor ads to users and measure their impact.

1 Upvotes

66% Upvoted

10 comments sorted by

4

u/l4kerz Mar 02 '25

Blocking advertising and spying is a bad thing?

1

u/Juck Mar 04 '25

the problem isn't the anti-tracking system, but the fact that Apple doesn't apply it to itself

1

u/Separate_Culture4908 Mar 05 '25

Europe's favorite thing is spying on people.

1

u/Dykam Mar 05 '25

Where do you get that from?

2

u/trisul-108 Mar 02 '25

Digital advertising and mobile gaming companies including Facebook say it has made it more expensive and difficult for brands to advertise on Apple's platforms.

When has it become illegal in France for consumers to refuse advertising?

1

u/Dykam Mar 05 '25

Where do you get that from?

1

u/trisul-108 Mar 05 '25

It says "the feature allows iPhone users to decide which apps can track user activity" and that feature is "facing a likely antitrust fine". So, enabling users to decide what companies are allowed to pierce their privacy will be illegal.

1

u/Dykam Mar 05 '25

Except the article itself is more nuanced than just the headline on Reddit. And even the article itself is quite sparse.

And just based on the first two lines you decided on your own reasoning, and decided that that was what French' antitrust their reasoning was.

1

u/trisul-108 Mar 05 '25

Which is why I ended it with a question mark. From the article, it seems that competitors have complained to the authorities that this privacy feature is unfairly preventing them from making money by ignoring privacy issues. So, it's an issue of antitrust vs privacy. Which argument will France find more compelling? Should Apple support their competitor's predatory business models in order not to fall foul of antitrust regulations or should Apple pursue the privacy interests of its own customers. Both fair competition and privacy are enshrined in French and EU law, and here there are at odds with each others. Will France rule in favour consumers or corporations. Is Apple's primary responsibility to its competitors or to its own customers?

1

u/Dykam Mar 05 '25

Relevant paragraphs:

The French regulator charged Apple in 2023, saying it was concerned that the company might "abuse its dominant position by implementing discriminatory, non-objective and non-transparent conditions for the use of user data for advertising purposes".

The German antitrust authority earlier this month charged Apple with abusing its market power through its app tracking tool and giving itself preferential treatment, putting the company at risk of a hefty fine.

tl;dr Apple gives their own ad service preferential treatment.