Google has attacked the European Commission in its bid to avoid paying a 4.34 billion euro ($5.1 billion) antitrust fine from 2018, claiming that the regulator ignored Apple when examining Android's impact on competition.
Smartphone producers including Apple should be required to provide security patches and spare parts for iPhones and other devices for seven years, according to a proposal from the German government to the European Union, in a bid to make the product category better for the environment.
Apple is said to spend more than 3.5 million euros (about $4.1 million) on lobbying European Union institutions as it weathers a barrage of antitrust investigations into various parts of its business.
The European Union's long-running plan to harmonize chargers for smartphones, and other devices, is reportedly set to be formally proposed and could become legislation.
The European Union has given Google two months to change the way it presents search results for hotels and flights and to explain to authorities how it ranks them.
The European Commission is starting an investigation into Google to determine if the search giant violated antitrust rules by favoring its own advertising business in online ad auctions it manages.
The chief of the European anti-trust commission, Margrethe Vestager, wants Apple to allow alternate app stores to enable proper competition on its platforms.
The European Union has issued a preliminary report into smarthomes and the Internet of Things, saying that Apple, Google, and others could prove to be anticompetitive.
The European Commission is to allow a consumer group to contribute to its continuing antitrust investigation into Apple Music.
As the EU drafts proposals to regulate technology firms, one European lawmaker wants the financial definition of Big Tech changed to ensure chiefly American companies are affected.
The European Union is expected to charge Apple over anticompetitive behavior allegations this week, almost two years after Spotify lodged its complaint with the European Commission about the App Store and Apple Music.
A European Commission investigation into whether Apple disadvantages Apple Music rivals is wrapping up and charges against Apple are expected. However, analysts believe the "bark is a lot worse than the bite."
The European Commission is expected to shortly announce that Apple will face antitrust charges after investigating Spotify's accusation that Apple unfairly puts Apple Music competitors at a disadvantage.
The French government wants changes to be made to the European Union's inbound regulatory updates affecting big tech companies and platforms like the App Store, granting more control to member states.
Apple needs to treat all apps equally with regard to its inbound privacy features including its own, says EU antitrust head Margrethe Vestager.
The European Union claims judges used "contradictory reasoning" when finding in favor of Apple and Ireland over a $14.4 billion tax payment.
The European Parliament has asked for Apple CEO Tim Cook to join other major tech CEOs to a hearing on February 1, with lawmakers aiming to discuss changes that could curtail the power of Apple, Google, Amazon, and Facebook on the continent.
Facebook took another swipe at Apple on Tuesday, saying it hopes Apple's power will be reigned in by new European Union draft proposals.
The European Commission on Tuesday introduced two new pieces of legislation that could implement much stricter regulations on tech giants in the European Union, and levy hefty fines for noncompliance.
Apple and other tech giants may have to alter how they promote their own apps on platforms they control, with the EU competition head hinting at rule changes that could be revealed before the end of 2020.
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Malcolm Owen
AppleInsider Staff
William Gallagher
Mike Peterson
Wesley Hilliard
