Tech Freedom
MembersA breakdown of the Democrats’ Big Tech antitrust report
We condense the report down to the main takeaways.
Google’s “pay to play” default browser auction makes it hard for privacy-friendly browsers to compete
Privacy-friendly browsers that don’t monetize user data can’t afford to compete.
The EU wants to give itself greater powers to punish tech companies that don’t censor enough
The EU wants to score tech companies on how promptly they take down users’ posts.
Mark Zuckerberg says Apple “deserves scrutiny”
It takes one to know one.
Apple threatens to cut off Epic Games’ access to developer tools that are necessary to maintain Unreal Engine
If Apple follows through, the threat will impact over 100 games on its platforms.
MembersHow Big Tech uses its stranglehold to stamp out alt-tech competitors
? Apple, Google, and Facebook’s control over mobile app distribution, search, and social is being used to restrict alt-tech solutions in multiple ways.
Epic Games files antitrust lawsuit against Apple and Google, calls for app store payment choice
The Fortnite developer is accusing both companies of engaging in “anti-competitive” and “monopolistic” practices via their mobile app stores.
Rumors of Apple’s virtual fitness classes competing with 3rd parties raises scrutiny of the 30% App Store tax
The tax gives Apple’s own services a margin advantage against competing apps that are forced to pay this 30% fee.
DuckDuckGo developers urge Justice Department to force Android to allow default search engine choice
DuckDuckGo outlined how it could work.
UK 2% digital tax of Amazon backfires, small businesses with already-tight margins end up paying
Sellers that use the platform will have to pay it.
MembersThe looming threat of antitrust isn’t deterring Big Tech censorship
? The tech companies now seem even more emboldened to demonstrate the censorship power that they hold.
Republicans don’t appear to want to break up Big Tech
The Republican approach has been to complain about Big Tech’s power but reject the idea of breaking them up.