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It's their hubris that lead to this. For some reasons companies always seem to believe that they have an upper hand over even the most powerful governmental str

It's their hubris that lead to this. For some reasons companies always seem to believe that they have an upper hand over even the most powerful governmental structure. The very powerful people at the helm of Apple, Google and friends seem to forget that on the other side of the table there are powerful people as well and that those are quite similar to themselves. I believe a large contributing factors were the public appearances (or lack thereof) of Tech Execs in front of government bodies (think Zuckerberg in the Senate) where it became clear that they think themselves above the rules of mere mortal man. They committed the capital offence publicly "ridiculing" powerful politicians (and by proxy the people who elected them) all over the world and that is something that won't fly in the long term. Come on Mark, suck in your ego, grovel a bit and agree to some semi-token compromises to keep the money train going. And for the love of god spend some real money in Europe and pay your taxes if you want political leverage. Apparently that was too much of an ask and now that the eyes of the public and regulators are on Big Tech they will be taken down a notch to "just" being profitable companies.

pg_1234 3y ago
The EU is just doing to Apple what Apple does to everyone else. They're saying "our App Store, our rules" ... where the App Store is the European market. Apple should just be glad they don't take 30% off the top of all revenue as a condition of doing business.
- monocularvision 3y ago
  Do you realize how it sounds to compare the power of a private corporation that sells phones and computers to government agencies that wield the power of literal violence?
  - pg_1234 3y ago
    Another way to look at that is a government body looking after the best interests of it's citizens vs. a corporation just chasing maximum profit. Given that we can be glad the corps don't wield the violence. Imagine if Apple could force you to buy it's goods at gunpoint?
    - webninja 3y ago
      How many of these governmental bodies look after the best interests of their citizens? For example: This year when I was traveling in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, most everyone I talked to (surprisingly) wanted big governmental changes there and would welcome a governmental collapse. The two main concerns were high theft rate of valuables and phones as well as politicians campaigning with big promises and then doing nothing but playing on their phones and getting paid for it. There was no accountability in government. From my own perspective, Ecuador needs foreign intervention and foreign security to help to at least keep mayors and presidential candidates from getting regularly assassinated because the way it’s going there, it looks like a collapse is probable. Ecuador’s government was one case of a government body not performing in the best interests of its citizens.
      - lenkite 3y ago
        Ecaudor's current government is fully supported by the current U.S. administration as they are leftists that lick Washington's boots while making all the right noises to secure support. “Ecuador has emerged as a model in Latin America and the Caribbean for its ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic governance and human rights,” Senator Bob Menendez, "We admire the strong voice for democracy that you have shared with the Ecuadorian people, but also for people throughout our hemisphere”, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his visit to Ecuador in October last year. “You and I are united not only in our values but in our vision of the future, one that’s both free and democratic”, President Joe Biden said after meeting the Ecuadorian president in December. 'Foreign' aka U.S. intervention will only happen if Lasso pisses off Washington - like Libya's Gadaffi did. But he knows whose feet to keep massaging to stay in power. Doesn't matter how many mayors or candidates get assassinated as long as he hops to Washington D.C.
        lobocinza 3y ago
        I think this apply to most leftist governments in Latin America and I believe this is a deliberate posture from Washington. Using Brazil as a example: Lula government is doing an economic collapse and authoritarian slide speed-run while supporting Russia, China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. By all means Lula government don't align with US values and its actions goes against US interests. But at the end of the day it doesn't support Trump and share a similar "democratic/progressive" narrative.

pg_1234 3y ago

The EU is just doing to Apple what Apple does to everyone else. They're saying "our App Store, our rules" ... where the App Store is the European market. Apple should just be glad they don't take 30% off the top of all revenue as a condition of doing business.

monocularvision 3y ago
Do you realize how it sounds to compare the power of a private corporation that sells phones and computers to government agencies that wield the power of literal violence?
- pg_1234 3y ago
  Another way to look at that is a government body looking after the best interests of it's citizens vs. a corporation just chasing maximum profit. Given that we can be glad the corps don't wield the violence. Imagine if Apple could force you to buy it's goods at gunpoint?
  - webninja 3y ago
    How many of these governmental bodies look after the best interests of their citizens? For example: This year when I was traveling in Quito, the capital city of Ecuador, most everyone I talked to (surprisingly) wanted big governmental changes there and would welcome a governmental collapse. The two main concerns were high theft rate of valuables and phones as well as politicians campaigning with big promises and then doing nothing but playing on their phones and getting paid for it. There was no accountability in government. From my own perspective, Ecuador needs foreign intervention and foreign security to help to at least keep mayors and presidential candidates from getting regularly assassinated because the way it’s going there, it looks like a collapse is probable. Ecuador’s government was one case of a government body not performing in the best interests of its citizens.
    - lenkite 3y ago
      Ecaudor's current government is fully supported by the current U.S. administration as they are leftists that lick Washington's boots while making all the right noises to secure support. “Ecuador has emerged as a model in Latin America and the Caribbean for its ongoing efforts to strengthen democratic governance and human rights,” Senator Bob Menendez, "We admire the strong voice for democracy that you have shared with the Ecuadorian people, but also for people throughout our hemisphere”, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said during his visit to Ecuador in October last year. “You and I are united not only in our values but in our vision of the future, one that’s both free and democratic”, President Joe Biden said after meeting the Ecuadorian president in December. 'Foreign' aka U.S. intervention will only happen if Lasso pisses off Washington - like Libya's Gadaffi did. But he knows whose feet to keep massaging to stay in power. Doesn't matter how many mayors or candidates get assassinated as long as he hops to Washington D.C.
      - lobocinza 3y ago
        I think this apply to most leftist governments in Latin America and I believe this is a deliberate posture from Washington. Using Brazil as a example: Lula government is doing an economic collapse and authoritarian slide speed-run while supporting Russia, China, Iran, Cuba and Venezuela. By all means Lula government don't align with US values and its actions goes against US interests. But at the end of the day it doesn't support Trump and share a similar "democratic/progressive" narrative.