Antitrust inquiries and lawsuits are increasingly targetting big tech companies. Recently, four French online advertising companies and publishers filed an against Apple with France’s competition authority over iPhone’s new privacy features. The four advertising lobbies and associations, namely IAB France, MMAF, SRI and UDECAM, argued that Apple is using “.”
Apple’s new operating software will require apps to get opt-in permission from users to collect their advertising identifier, a number that allows advertisers to send targeted ads, instead of an opt-out system. It has been argued that under Apple’s new privacy configuration, few users will agree to be tracked, which makes it harder for advertising companies to sell personalized ads. On the other hand, Apple can hold itself to a to iOS users without asking them for prior consent and potentially boost its profits.
Moreover, the United States Department of Justice against Google on October 20, 2020, for antitrust violations. Google is said to be facing the most significant in a generation since the unprecedented case against commenced in 1998. In this particular context, antitrust violations refer to the , which inhibits healthy and fair competition, leaving consumers vulnerable to predatory business practices in various ways.
Currently, Google controls about A recent report from a House Judiciary Subcommittee concluded that Google has . One of the reasons behind the suit was that Google is paying phone manufacturers to ensure Google is the on browsers. Google’s search application is preloaded and cannot be deleted on mobile phones with systems. Responding to exclusionary practices and market dominance, “…People use Google because they choose to — not because they’re forced to or because they can’t find alternatives.”
This pre-election lawsuit against Google is said to be on tech giants for antitrust issues. In Canada, there have not been any major antitrust investigations against tech companies so far. However, that it is only a matter of time before Canada joins the US and the EU in antitrust investigations. For instance, recently, Canadian publishers complained about big tech giants such as Google and Facebook which threatens Canada's publishing market's survival. Publishers urged Ottawa to force the tech companies to urgently. Canadian Heritage Minister signalled his intent to focus on this issue and address the imbalance between the Canadian news organizations and tech giants.
Though Canadian regulators have generally been more moderate than their American or European counterparts, the Canadian Competition Bureau is now tech giants for anti-competitive behaviour. The Canadian approach to competition violations is providing s rather than taking the companies to court. However, this approach has not always worked so well in terms of .
Moreover, some people claim that big tech should not be disturbed for all the good they provide for society. Even in the 90s and 00s, challenging Microsoft for violating antitrust laws was decision. Microsoft was a well-liked company, and Bill Gates was widely held as a “visionary genius,” and it was argued that enforcing the antitrust laws against Microsoft would . However, innovation still surged in the American technology markets even after the action against Microsoft. Accordingly, demanding fairer rules and compliance surrounding competition from tech-giants should be a priority for Canadians.
Written by Elif Babaoglu. Elif is a contributing IPilogue editor and an avid privacy and tech-law enthusiast with a particular focus on artificial intelligence.
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