All posts tagged: Competition/antitrust

EU says WhatsApp AI terms update fails to resolve antitrust concerns – POLITICO

EU says WhatsApp AI terms update fails to resolve antitrust concerns – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

“Replacing the legal ban with pricing that has a similar effect does not change our preliminary view that Meta’s conduct appears to be an abuse of its dominant position,” Executive Vice President Teresa Ribera said in a statement. The EU executive is considering whether to impose rare interim measures on Meta to restore access. The updated charge sheet follows Meta’s March announcement that it had replaced the ban with a new pricing framework. The tech giant said at the time that the change in Europe is intended to provide the Commission with “the time it needs to conclude its investigation.” Meta maintains that the AI sector is “highly competitive,” and that rival AI services remain available to customers through app stores, search engines, email providers and operating systems. “The European Commission is proposing to use its regulatory powers to enable some of the largest companies in the world to use the paid-for WhatsApp Business product for free,” Joshua Breckman, a spokesperson for Meta, said in response to the Commission’s chargesheet. Breckman added that interim measures would …

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Former von der Leyen aide’s new role reflects EU competition policy shift – POLITICO

Published by Sam Flores

Speaking with POLITICO, Whelan denied that his role was to build a bridge between von der Leyen and the competition department. “I don’t think the president and the EVP are in need of bridges,” he said. Ribera — who as the top socialist in the Commission is a foil to Christian Democrat von der Leyen — also framed the department’s future mandate through a philosophical lens, calling for enforcement grounded in fairness and protecting the vulnerable.  “In these uncertain times, our responsibility is more important than ever: to enforce rules firmly, to remain free from any distorting pressures, to act with integrity,” Ribera wrote. European Commission Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera arriving at the European Pulse Forum in Barcelona on April 10. | David Zorrakino/Europa Press via Getty Images Bridge builder or not, competition bubble insiders say Whelan has the bureaucratic and political chops to both manage that relationship and execute on the new competition agenda. “Highly intelligent, politically savvy, pragmatic, open-minded, and a strong believer in vigorous enforcement,” is …