ROME. Italy’s antitrust authority fined Google Alphabet and iPhone maker Apple 10 million euros ($ 11.2 million) each for “aggressive actions” involving the commercial use of user data.
The authorities said in a statement that the two tech teams did not provide “clear and immediate information” about how they collect and use the data of those who access their services.
Both Google and Apple said they disagree with the antitrust decision and will appeal.
The observer said that when users created their Google account, the system was designed in such a way that the terms of use of the data had to be accepted.
In Apple’s case, users have no choice over this, the antitrust regulator added.
“We provide industry-leading transparency and control for all users to choose what information to transmit or not and how to use it,” Apple said in a statement, which called the regulator’s view “wrong”.
Google said in a statement that it follows “fair and transparent practices to provide users with useful services, and also provides clear information about their use.”
According to the regulator, the penalty is the maximum amount that the watchdog timer can apply in these cases.
(1 dollar = 0.8903 euros)
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