3 ms·

Now that is just being prejudiced. It's not EU's agenda to try and bring down American tech companies for the sake of malice (or protectionism). You do not thin

by tekkk 9y ago

Now that is just being prejudiced. It's not EU's agenda to try and bring down American tech companies for the sake of malice (or protectionism). You do not think they have not been at some fault? Or that there is something good about GDPR too? While it's easy to start mulling over why and how things are or could have done differently I'd argue that there is no animosity towards American companies per se. The data of its citizens however is a very sensitive issue for EU and in the light of Snowden leaks maybe they are rightfully fearful of US having too much technological hold over them. There is silly people over both sides of the ocean but let's not start willfully feeding rash preconceptions for no reason.

joejerryronnie 9y ago
You're right, it's not the EU's agenda to try and bring down American tech companies - it is strictly Margrethe Vestager's political ambition to ride the hardline, protectionist stance against American tech straight to the EU President's office. Thankfully, she's burned so many political bridges that her own country is railroading her plans.
ucarion 9y ago
The claim that EU may have a populist-fueled agenda against American tech companies is not entirely without basis. It's not lawless anti-Americanism, but the tone has certainly changed. Consider what the Economist has to say about Margrethe Vestager, who runs Europe's trustbusting agency. https://www.economist.com/news/business/21728979-she-rich-worlds-most-powerful-trustbuster-margrethe-vestager-championing-consumers-or https://www.economist.com/news/business/21728979-she-rich-wo...
- allenz 9y ago
  The Economist criticizes Vestager for fining Google and Apple. It concedes that both were anticompetitive, but complains that there is no proof "that consumers were denied a superior service as a consequence". But that's an impossibly high bar: no one can guarantee that competition will emerge; regulation can only provide a level playing field. So I don't think that this is a good article to prove your point.
hueving 9y ago
I've seen constant protectionist sentiments from Europeans, Americans, and everyone else. You are delusional if you think it doesn't exist and it's critical to address it on its face when considering legislation.
mtgx 9y ago
I know where those comments come from. It was the NYT mainly and I think Reuters or Bloomberg doing it a bit, too - they were pushing this angle that the EU is doing it out of "jealousy" and nothing else. Some people have actually bought that idea. But I imagine they'd want the US government to exhibit some of that jealousy against Facebook right about now, too...especially with Facebook now announcing that they won't implement the GDPR globally. Ironically, it's the same media entities that seem to have essentially admitted they got it wrong with all the negative posts they've published against Facebook recently, and I think those sorts of articles will continue against Google and other privacy-violating companies, too, in the near future.

by tekkk 9y ago

joejerryronnie 9y ago

You're right, it's not the EU's agenda to try and bring down American tech companies - it is strictly Margrethe Vestager's political ambition to ride the hardline, protectionist stance against American tech straight to the EU President's office. Thankfully, she's burned so many political bridges that her own country is railroading her plans.

ucarion 9y ago

The claim that EU may have a populist-fueled agenda against American tech companies is not entirely without basis. It's not lawless anti-Americanism, but the tone has certainly changed. Consider what the Economist has to say about Margrethe Vestager, who runs Europe's trustbusting agency. https://www.economist.com/news/business/21728979-she-rich-worlds-most-powerful-trustbuster-margrethe-vestager-championing-consumers-or https://www.economist.com/news/business/21728979-she-rich-wo...

allenz 9y ago
The Economist criticizes Vestager for fining Google and Apple. It concedes that both were anticompetitive, but complains that there is no proof "that consumers were denied a superior service as a consequence". But that's an impossibly high bar: no one can guarantee that competition will emerge; regulation can only provide a level playing field. So I don't think that this is a good article to prove your point.

hueving 9y ago

I've seen constant protectionist sentiments from Europeans, Americans, and everyone else. You are delusional if you think it doesn't exist and it's critical to address it on its face when considering legislation.

mtgx 9y ago

I know where those comments come from. It was the NYT mainly and I think Reuters or Bloomberg doing it a bit, too - they were pushing this angle that the EU is doing it out of "jealousy" and nothing else. Some people have actually bought that idea. But I imagine they'd want the US government to exhibit some of that jealousy against Facebook right about now, too...especially with Facebook now announcing that they won't implement the GDPR globally. Ironically, it's the same media entities that seem to have essentially admitted they got it wrong with all the negative posts they've published against Facebook recently, and I think those sorts of articles will continue against Google and other privacy-violating companies, too, in the near future.