In this article, we will explore some examples of government regulations that have affected Google and Apple in various regions and how they have had to comply with them.
Explore examples of government regulations that have forced tech giants like Google and Apple to comply with the law in different regions.
Introduction
Tech giants like Google and Apple have long been at the forefront of innovation and technology. However, they have also faced their fair share of government regulations and fines for not complying with them. From the EU’s Type-C charging ports to Brazil’s charger rule for iPhones, and Australia’s licensing fee, these regulations have forced tech giants to change their policies and comply with the law.
“We will have to comply … but it would have been better to not have a government be that prescriptive” — this is what Greg Joswiak, senior vice- president of marketing at Apple, said last October after a landmark ruling by the European Union. Joswiak, and Apple, weren’t happy as the EU made it compulsory for all phone companies to have Type-C charging ports. Apple, for years, has walked a different path with its lightning cable.
The EU may have just forced it to make one of the biggest changes that would come to iPhones in almost 10 years. And it is something that Apple wasn’t keen to do. Closer home, Google was recently forced to make policy changes in India, after the Competition Commission of India wanted to prevent the tech giant from misusing its dominant position in the mobile OS market. It wasn’t the first time Google was asked — or even heavily fined — by government authorities.
Google Vs EU
In a case similar to that with the CCI, Google had to pay $4.12 billion to the European Union. The case started in 2015 and Google was accused of imposing “unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators to consolidate the dominant position of its search engine”. The company fought the case but lost and ended up paying a heavy fine. This was the third time the EU had imposed a fine on Google. First was a e2.42 billion penalty for putting its own comparison-shopping services on the search pages. The second e1.49 billion fine was for stopping websites from including search results from its rivals.
Apple Vs Brazil
In 2020, when Apple launched the iPhone 12 series, it stopped shipping the charger in the box citing “environmental” reasons. This didn’t go down well with Brazil and it forced the company to ship chargers with the phones. First, the country banned the sale of iPhones without chargers. Later, Brazil fined Apple close to Rs 150 crore. Apple has appealed the decision but doesn’t sell iPhones without chargers in Brazil.
Google, Facebook Vs Australia
Australia had proposed a Bill under which Facebook and Google would have to pay a licence fee to media firms for sharing content. Google threatened to yank off its search engine if the Bill was passed. In 2021, however, Google announced agreements to pay publishers, but the details were never revealed. FB removed all news content from its platform in Australia. But, in 2021, FB too agreed to pay publishers. However, Australia had to make certain amendments to the law before FB and Google came on board.
Conclusion
The cases of Google and Apple highlight the increasing scrutiny of government authorities over big tech companies. While these regulations are aimed at preventing misuse of market dominance, they also play a crucial role in protecting consumers and promoting fair competition. As such, it is crucial for tech giants to navigate the legal landscape effectively and make the necessary changes to comply with the regulations in the regions where they operate.
(ET/India CSR)
