Remix.run Logo
▲ Footnote7341 3 hours ago

They were fined almost a billion dollars over a UI feature where you select which photos to upload. The app itself doesn't actually access your camera roll randomly and upload your photos or anything.

Isn't the EU making more money from fining US tech companies than their own tech companies are paying in taxes at this point?

▲Solololo an hour ago | parent | next [-]

> Isn't the EU making more money from fining US tech companies than their own tech companies are paying in taxes at this point?

No, this is a common piece of Trump era propaganda. The EU does not levy such a general corporate tax, fines are not recurring as taxes are, fines like this one are done by a single member state (Italy in this case) and do nothing for the EU's budget, and the big tech companies within the EU are private companies whereas this misleading stat picks the rare public ones for its comparison

▲dmix 3 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

After a few big payouts it will be difficult for these governments to stop putting their hand in the cookie jar. They will find something new every year.

▲qubex 3 hours ago | parent [-]

It’s entirely possible to operate in accordance with local laws, or they can leave the market entirely. As an Italian I’d be delighted if Meta upped and left, heaven knows it’s not done any good to society.

▲Footnote7341 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

They are being fined over the normal android gallery permissions flow, it doesn't make any sense at all. Fines aren't the same thing as taxes you aren't supposed to just randomly fine people for no reason.

▲qubex 2 hours ago | parent [-]

If they were being fined over ordinary Android gallery permissions flow, it would’ve been Google and not Meta on the hook. The fact that that isn’t the case (and that if they made that argument in their defence, it failed to hold sway) strongly suggests otherwise.

▲loeg an hour ago | parent | prev [-]

I'm not sure it is actually possible to operate in accordance with Euro zone laws. There's always some insane thing.