 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 by Staff Writers Brussels (AFP) Dec 20, 2016
The European Union charged Facebook on Tuesday with providing "misleading" information when it sought approval for its blockbuster $22-billon buyout of the WhatsApp mobile messaging service. The European Commission said the EU's greenlight of the buyout, announced in October 2014, was not in jeopardy but the social network could face almost two hundred million euros in fines. With the charge, Facebook joins Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft among the US-based tech giants caught in major EU competition probes. "The European Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to Facebook alleging the company provided incorrect or misleading information during the Commission's 2014 investigation" of the buyout, the EU's executive arm said in a statement. Facebook is accused of misleading the EU with a claim that it was technically impossible for it to merge users between the two services. But WhatsApp in August said that it would begin sharing data with Facebook, in a bid to allow better-targeted advertising and to fight spam on the platform. The update by WhatsApp raises "concerns that Facebook intentionally, or negligently, submitted incorrect or misleading information to the commission," the EU said. The company has until January 31 to respond to the charge sheet. It faces a fine of one percent of annual sales, which stood at a whopping $18 billion in 2015. "We respect the Commission's process and are confident that a full review of the facts will confirm Facebook has acted in good faith," a Facebook spokesperson said in an email. The rare accusation by Brussels comes after the EU's powerful competition chief Margarethe Vestager said she "will keep a close eye on how companies use data". The commission is worried that the value of user data is underestimated in tech mergers, though Brussels waved through the recent buyout of LinkedIn by Microsoft despite these concerns. Tensions between Brussels and Washington have sharpened since EU regulators turned a focus on US tech companies. Vestager in August ordered Apple to pay back 13 billion euros in taxes and her teams are running several cases against Google.
Related Links Satellite-based Internet technologies
|
|||||||||||||
|
|
| The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us. |
del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Google
