Microsoft and a subsidiary will pay $25.3 million in combined criminal and civil penalties to resolve the U.S. government’s investigation into violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Technology
Posted inEurope
What we can learn from the biggest GDPR fines so far
Recent record-breaking fines for GDPR violations levied on British Airways and Marriott by the U.K. Information Commissioner’s Office offer a glimpse into what GDPR enforcement might look like going forward and serve up a warning to companies that data privacy protocols must be foolproof.
Posted inEurope
All eyes on how Ireland will handle Big Tech and GDPR
Ireland—home EU regulator to Big Tech firms including Google, Twitter, and Facebook—is the key country not to have issued a GDPR-related fine yet, though the regulator has said it has started at least 19 inquiries into the sector. That includes one into Facebook over its password security measures and another into Google over concerns that […]
Posted inEurope
GDPR enforcement varies widely by country
Most EU countries have now issued fines under the GDPR. Determining which are the toughest enforcers depends on one’s viewpoint—we lay out country-by-country look at the enforcement trends to date.
Posted inEurope
Qualcomm fined $271M for predatory pricing
The European Commission has fined Qualcomm 242 million Euros (U.S. $271 million) for anti-competitive behavior in violation of EU antitrust rules. Qualcomm says it has done nothing wrong and will appeal the finding.
Posted inTechnology
Congress debates: Are tech giants bullies or saviors?
Amazon, Google, Facebook, and Apple were called before Congress this week to debate what critics perceive as the anti-competitive, entrepreneur-chilling effects they trigger with their size and scope.
Posted inTechnology
Google, Amazon fire back: Rising tide lifts all boats
A common refrain—and effective defense—from tech companies at the House Judiciary hearing this week was that rather than stifling competition, their size and scope is responsible for a tide that raises all boats in their wake.
Posted inEurope
EU investigating Amazon over antitrust concerns
The European Commission is investigating Amazon over concerns that the company’s use of data gathered from independent retailers that sell on its marketplace breaches EU competition rules.
Posted inData Privacy
Congress, Treasury take swings at Facebook’s Libra plan
A plan by Facebook to enter the world of virtual currency is attracting predictable skepticism in Washington. It could also expedite the slow emergence of national data protection laws.
Posted inData Privacy
FTC looks worryingly timid in staying silent on Facebook
The FTC, by dragging its feet and keeping silent on a massive Facebook fine, raises concerns about its potential role as top cop on the data privacy beat.
