EU Probes Tech Giants Apple, Google, Microsoft Over Online Scams
▼ Summary
– The EU is investigating whether Apple, Google, and Microsoft are doing enough to prevent online financial fraud, using powers from the Digital Services Act.
– EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen stated that formal requests for information will be sent to these three companies and to Booking Holdings.
– The investigation will focus on how Apple and Google handle fake applications, such as fake banking apps, in their app stores.
– Regulators will also scrutinize fake search results on Google and Microsoft’s Bing, as well as fake accommodation listings on Booking.com.
– This action occurs amid transatlantic tensions, with the EU emphasizing it is scrutinizing company operations, not their country of origin.
The European Union is intensifying its focus on how major technology corporations handle financial fraud, with regulators preparing to question Apple, Google, and Microsoft about their efforts to combat online scams. This initiative forms part of a broader push to enforce the bloc’s Digital Services Act, which aims to create a safer digital environment by holding large online platforms accountable for illegal content.
EU tech chief Henna Virkkunen confirmed that formal requests for information will be sent to the three U.S. tech giants, along with the global travel platform Booking Holdings. Virkkunen emphasized the growing prevalence of criminal activities online, stating that platforms must demonstrate they are taking every possible step to detect and prevent such illegal behavior. The information requests represent an initial step that could eventually lead to full-blown investigations and significant financial penalties if compliance is deemed insufficient.
This regulatory action occurs against a backdrop of rising transatlantic friction concerning Europe’s assertive digital regulations. U.S. President Donald Trump has previously threatened retaliatory tariffs against nations he believes are unfairly targeting American companies, adding a layer of geopolitical tension to the proceedings. Virkkunen, however, clarified that the commission’s scrutiny is directed at the specific operations of each company, not their country of origin.
The investigation will zero in on several key areas. For Apple and Google, regulators will examine the presence of fraudulent applications within their respective app stores, including counterfeit banking apps designed to steal user credentials. The inquiry will also assess how Google and Microsoft’s Bing search engines handle the problem of fake or misleading search results. As for Booking Holdings, whose primary subsidiary Booking.com is headquartered in Amsterdam, officials seek details on its methods for identifying and removing fraudulent accommodation listings. Booking Holdings is notably the only Europe-based company among the four being scrutinized.
(Source: Ars Technica)
