Core Viewpoint - Apple is facing an antitrust investigation in Spain regarding its App Store practices, with concerns about unfair trading conditions imposed on developers [1] Group 1: Investigation Details - The CNMC has opened an investigation into Apple's App Store, which may take up to two years to complete [1] - If found in breach of competition rules, Apple could face penalties of up to 10% of its global annual turnover, potentially amounting to billions of euros [1] - Developer complaints about Apple's App Store operations have been ongoing, particularly regarding fees for in-app sales and the app review process [2] Group 2: Apple's Response and Claims - Apple asserts that it applies clear and consistent rules to ensure a safe and high-quality experience for users, claiming that over 90% of app store revenues go to developers without collecting any commission [2] - In response to the CNMC investigation, Apple stated it would cooperate with the Spanish Competition Authority [2] Group 3: Broader Regulatory Context - The European Commission is also investigating Apple for suspected non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which includes significant penalties for violations [3] - Preliminary findings from the Commission suggest that Apple's anti-steering rules may breach the DMA [3] - The EU is examining Apple's compliance with DMA requirements to allow third-party app stores, with developers arguing that Apple complicates access to these alternatives [4] Group 4: Future Implications - Additional regulatory scrutiny is anticipated as the U.K. prepares to implement its own competition reforms targeting Big Tech [4] - The ongoing antitrust actions against Apple may attract litigation funders looking to capitalize on the situation [4]

Elon Musk says he will show off Tesla’s purpose-built “robotaxi” prototype during an event October 10, after scrapping a previous plan to reveal it August 8. Musk said Tesla will also show off “a couple of other things,” but didn’t explain what that meant.The comments, made on Tesla’s second-quarter earnings call Tuesday, largely confirms Bloomberg’s original report about the delay, including that it was driven by Musk’s desire to redesign certain elements of the prototype. Musk confirmed earlier this month ...

Alphabet will spend an additional $5 billion on its self-driving subsidiary, Waymo, over the next few years, according to Ruth Porat, the company’s chief financial officer.Porat announced the commitment to a new “multi-year investment” Tuesday during Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings call. “This new round of funding, which is consistent with recent annual investment levels, will enable Waymo to continue to build the world’s leading autonomous driving technology company,” said Porat. Porat noted that Googl ...

Alphabet will spend an additional $5 billion on its self-driving subsidiary, Waymo, over the next few years, according to Ruth Porat, the company’s chief financial officer.Porat announced the commitment to a new “multi-year investment” Tuesday during Alphabet’s second-quarter earnings call. “This new round of funding, which is consistent with recent annual investment levels, will enable Waymo to continue to build the world’s leading autonomous driving technology company,” said Porat. Porat noted that Googl ...

Waymo has started testing a new robotaxi built by Chinese electric automaker Zeekr on public roads in San Francisco. Waymo has “less than a handful” of the Zeekr vehicles in San Francisco today and isn’t driving them autonomously yet. Still, the fact that Waymo has hit the roads with a roomier, custom-built robotaxi signals the next phase of the Alphabet-owned company’s autonomous vehicle technology journey. The public testing milestone has been several years in the making. Waymo first announced plans to bu ...

Core Viewpoint - Meta is facing scrutiny from the European Union regarding its 'pay or consent' model, which requires users to either accept tracking for targeted ads or pay for an ad-free experience, raising concerns about consumer protection and compliance with EU regulations [1][2][3]. Group 1: Regulatory Concerns - The Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network has given Meta until September 1, 2024, to address consumer protection concerns related to its 'pay or consent' model [2]. - The European Commission is investigating whether Meta's practices violate the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and the Digital Services Act [1][2]. - The CPC network is concerned that Meta's consent mechanism may involve misleading or aggressive practices, failing to provide consumers with clear and sufficient information [3]. Group 2: Misleading Practices - The CPC highlights that Meta's use of the term "free" may be misleading, as users must consent to data tracking for personalized ads if they do not pay for the ad-free version [4]. - Concerns have been raised about Meta's language, which may confuse users regarding their personal data and the nature of ads they may still see even if they pay [4][5]. - The CPC argues that the navigation process for users to understand their data usage is overly complicated, potentially leading to confusion [5]. Group 3: Consumer Pressure - The CPC has noted that users are under undue pressure to make a quick decision between consenting to tracking or paying, which may not allow them sufficient time to assess the implications [3][6]. - The introduction of the 'pay or consent' model has left long-time free users unable to access their accounts until they make a choice, raising further concerns about consumer rights [5][6]. Group 4: Potential Consequences - If Meta fails to address the concerns raised by the CPC, national consumer protection authorities in EU member states could impose penalties of up to 4% of Meta's global annual turnover [8]. - The coordinated action by the CPC network indicates a serious regulatory challenge for Meta, which may lead to significant financial implications if enforcement actions are pursued [8].

GM’s self-driving car subsidiary Cruise is scrapping plans to build the Origin  — a purpose-built robotaxi with no steering wheel or pedals — and will instead use the next-generation Chevrolet Bolt in its operations.GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra told shareholders Tuesday the decision will “simplify their path to scale” and addresses the regulatory uncertainty faced with the Origin robotaxi because of its unique design. The per-unit costs will also be much lower, which will help Cruise optimize its resources, ...

Cybersecurity startup Wiz has turned down a $23 billion acquisition offer from Alphabet, Google’s parent company, according to a source familiar with discussions.Despite the offer representing a substantial premium over its last private valuation of $12 billion,Wiz’s management team with support of investors have opted to remain independent, the person said.Wiz’s CEO, Assaf Rappaport, sent the following email to Wiz’s 1200 employees around the world:Wizards,I know the last week has been intense, with the bu ...

Alphabet, the parent company of Google, is in advanced talks to acquire cybersecurity startup Wiz for $23 billion, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday. TechCrunch’s sources heard similar and added that deal discussions could last into next week.If this deal does end up getting done, it would be Alphabet’s largest acquisition yet. It would also be a massive exit for a startup at a time when exits, M&A specifically, aren’t rebounding as much as many had predicted heading into 2024. If the deal does get ...

Around 8.5 million devices — less than 1 percent Windows machines globally — were affected by the recent CrowdStrike outage, according to a Microsoft blog post by David Weston, the company’s vice president of enterprise and OS security.These are the first real numbers released by either Microsoft or CrowdStrike around the scale of yesterday’s outage, which was caused by an update to CrowdStrike’s cybersecurity software that led Windows machines to crash. (Mac and Linux devices were not affected.) Although ...