Apple Reportedly on EU 'Hit List' of Big Tech Companies Targeted for Regulation

EU regulators are taking aim at up to 20 big tech companies, including Apple, as part of a "hit list" that seeks to curb their market influence, reports The Financial Times.

European Commisssion

The plans reportedly involve the demand that larger tech companies face tougher regulations than smaller competitors, data sharing with rivals, and increased transparency on data gathering. The move is part of a wider effort by EU lawmakers to increase competition in the technology industry.

The list is to be determined based on market share, competition, and number of users, meaning that Apple, Facebook, Google, and Amazon are all likely to be implicated.

Under the plans, big tech companies could quickly be forced to change their business practices without the need for an investigation or the breaking of any law. In extreme circumstances, big tech companies could be broken up if they are found to be discouraging rivals.

The news comes as the Korea Herald reports that a leading global economic watchdog, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, has proposed an overhaul of international tax rule aimed at big tech companies which could raise an extra $100 billion worldwide. The global tax framework overhaul is to be presented to 20 finance ministers from around the world this week and could be implemented as soon as next year.

Earlier this month, it was reported that the EU was planning to implement wide-ranging legal measures to compel major tech companies to share data with competitors and give no preference to their own apps and services as part of its new Digital Services Act. The legislation is expected to be publicized in full by the end of this year to prevent further long-lasting antitrust cases.

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Top Rated Comments

Gorms Avatar
62 months ago
Let's all just hope that whatever the plans are, they are better thought out than the cookie notification one.
Score: 36 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Juan007 Avatar
62 months ago
They don't even pretend anymore. "Hit list"? Just call these "governments" what they really are -- gangsters who want their cut.

STEVE JOBS created iPhone and Apple reaps the rewards. If the EU doesn't like that then they should encourage innovation in their own borders instead of raising taxes and going after successful people and companies.
Score: 22 Votes (Like | Disagree)
casperes1996 Avatar
62 months ago

Let's all just hope that whatever the plans are, they are better thought out than the cookie notification one.
The cookie thing could work nicely if it were more standardised. If instead of a website thing that each web page had to implement on their own, the browser got involved and the dialog belonged to the browser rather than the webpage, and you could have checkboxes for "always allow" and "always disallow all" or "always disallow third party advertising" and so on. I'd love that
Score: 21 Votes (Like | Disagree)
IsaacM Avatar
62 months ago
Good. Big tech needs to be put under control.

Waiting for the brainwashed Americans to come defend their favorite multi-trillion dollar corporation while they fear getting sick so they don't get left with crippling debt.
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
itsmilo Avatar
62 months ago
This cannot not end in a mess. Every country in the EU will want their own regulations pushed through. We cannot even agree on COVID-19 rules within one country, let alone for something like this
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
yaxomoxay Avatar
62 months ago
"Under the plans, big tech companies could quickly be forced to change their business practices without the need for an investigation or the breaking of any law. In extreme circumstances, big tech companies could be broken up if they are found to be discouraging rivals."

Is this a joke?
Score: 9 Votes (Like | Disagree)