EU Probes Apple, Google, Microsoft Over Online Scam Response
▼ Summary
– The EU is formally requesting information from Apple, Google, Microsoft, and Booking Holdings under the Digital Services Act regarding their efforts to combat online scams.
– Regulators are concerned about the rise of online criminal activity and want to ensure platforms are making sufficient efforts to detect and prevent illegal content.
– Apple and Google will be evaluated on how they handle fraudulent applications, such as fake banking apps, in their app stores.
– Google and Microsoft’s search engines will be scrutinized for fake search results, while Booking will be analyzed for fake accommodation listings.
– These information requests could lead to official investigations, potentially resulting in fines of up to six percent of the companies’ annual global turnover.
The European Union is intensifying its scrutiny of major technology firms, demanding that Apple, Google, and Microsoft provide detailed accounts of their actions against online scams. According to a report, EU regulators have issued formal requests for information under the Digital Services Act, targeting the companies’ efforts to combat financial fraud. Booking Holdings, the parent company of Booking.com, is also included in this preliminary inquiry.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen emphasized the growing threat of online criminal activity, stating that platforms must be held accountable for deploying robust measures to detect and prevent illegal content. The initiative reflects a broader push to ensure digital environments are safe for consumers.
A key focus for regulators will be the app stores operated by Apple and Google, specifically their processes for identifying and removing fraudulent applications such as counterfeit banking apps. Simultaneously, the search engines of Google and Microsoft will be evaluated for their handling of deceptive search results that could lead users to scam websites.
As the sole Europe-based company under review, Booking will need to demonstrate how it tackles the problem of fake accommodation listings on its platform. These information requests represent a preliminary step that could escalate into full-blown investigations. Should formal proceedings be initiated, the companies could potentially face significant penalties, including fines of up to six percent of their annual global revenue.
(Source: The Verge)
