EU

Business
September 2, 2016
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Apple EU Tax Appeal

Ireland doesn’t want Apple’s $13.5 billion in back taxes

By on September 2, 2016 at 10:00 PM.

Ireland doesn’t want Apple’s $13.5 billion in back taxes

Earlier this week, the European Commission concluded an enquiry into Apple’s European tax situation, concluding that the company owes Ireland $13.5 billion in unpaid taxes. But the case is anything but closed, as both Apple and Ireland have decided to appeal the ruling.

Why doesn’t Ireland want Apple to give it about $3,000 per person? Because Ireland thinks that Apple paid all the taxes it owes.

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Business
August 30, 2016
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Apple €13 Billion Tax Verdict EU

Breaking: Apple has to pay €13 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland, plus interest

By on August 30, 2016 at 6:50 AM.

Breaking: Apple has to pay €13 billion in unpaid taxes to Ireland, plus interest

The European Commission on Tuesday came out with an official ruling in its investigation of Apple’s tax practices in the region. The verdict isn’t at all favorable to the iPhone maker and comes crashing in about a week before Apple’s iPhone 7 announcement party. More →

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Business
August 25, 2016
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Apple Eu Tax Investigation

Apple might owe the EU billions in back taxes

By on August 25, 2016 at 3:20 PM.

Apple might owe the EU billions in back taxes

Apple has been under fire from the EU over its tax system for quite some time, but up until now, we didn’t know how bad things were. JP Morgan, one of Apple’s investment banks overseeing the case, has put the potential tax bill at $19 billion. That’s a ways over the previous estimates, and a healthy chunk of change even for the cash-flush Apple.

The news came at the same time as the US Treasury Department sought to intervene in the case. The government has entered the fight on Apple’s side, accusing the European Commission of being a “supra-national tax authority.”

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Business
July 14, 2016
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Google EU Antitrust

The EU proves it doesn’t like Google, hits it with more antitrust charges

By on July 14, 2016 at 8:00 PM.

The EU proves it doesn’t like Google, hits it with more antitrust charges

It’s no secret that Google and the EU’s anti-competitive practices department have a rocky relationship. Google has been accused of abusing its monopoly power to keep competitors out of the business in the past, and now regulators are doubling down.

The European Commission today issued a “statement of objections” against Alphabet, Google’s parent company. The main complaint is the contract Google signs with third-party websites that use its advertising service, which forces websites to put Google’s ads front and center, and prevents them from using ads from non-Google services.

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Lifestyle
June 24, 2016
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Brexit Vote Results

Brexit: when democracy feels like it doesn’t work

By on June 24, 2016 at 9:45 AM.

Brexit: when democracy feels like it doesn’t work

Last night, the majority of the British population voted to leave the European Union. It’s an act of direct democracy, high turnout voting on a simple yes-and-no question. But because of stunning generational divides, the result of the Brexit vote sure doesn’t feel like a fair and equitable outcome.

According to a YouGov poll, a huge majority of people under 50 voted to Remain. Among 18-24-year-olds, the age category that’s going to have to live with the consequences of this vote for all of their working lives, 75 percent voted to stay.

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Business
March 2, 2016
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Privacy Shield NSA Spying

NSA can still spy under new ‘Privacy Shield’ agreement with Europe

By on March 2, 2016 at 9:15 PM.

NSA can still spy under new ‘Privacy Shield’ agreement with Europe

The United States and the European Union are about to reach a new privacy agreement intended to replace the old Safe Harbor agreement that came under intense scrutiny after the Snowden leaks revealed the scope of NSA’s data collection operations.

The new Privacy Shield was published in full a few days ago, showing the principles that would govern the exchange of digital information between EU consumers and U.S. companies. However, the new agreement also has provisions that explain how and when the NSA can continue bulk data collection in the region. More →

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Business
August 6, 2015
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Google EU Search Android Antitrust Investigation

‘We love Google, but we fear Google’ – the full story of Google’s $6B EU nightmare

By on August 6, 2015 at 7:15 PM.

‘We love Google, but we fear Google’ – the full story of Google’s $6B EU nightmare

“We love Google, but we fear Google,” Vodafone CEO Vittorio Colao said during a high-profile debate that Eric Schmidt lost badly to one of the most important Google opponents in Europe. The debate took place at an exclusive Google event last August, attended mainly by Googlers. While that may be seen as just an argument between powerful people manning top companies that affect our daily digital lives, Google’s business in Europe is actually at stake.

The search giant is facing intense scrutiny in Europe in an antitrust case that seemed to leave Google unharmed more than a year ago. But Google is a long way off from reaching a definitive settlement, as more and more companies make their concerns against Google heard. The company might be facing a $6 billion fine in a case that could have lasting damage to its business in the region. More →

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Business
November 28, 2014
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EU vs. Google Search

EU wants to divide and conquer Google

By on November 28, 2014 at 6:50 AM.

EU wants to divide and conquer Google

The European Parliament on Thursday voted to break up Google, Reuters reports. The motion against Google, which already has its fair share of legal troubles in the EU, was “overwhelmingly backed” — 384 votes for and 174 against — although it’s not exactly clear what that means for the giant corporation’s search business. More →

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Business
September 29, 2014
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Apple Record Tax Fine

Apple faces a record fine in Europe over alleged illegal tax-dodging practices

By on September 29, 2014 at 8:01 PM.

Apple faces a record fine in Europe over alleged illegal tax-dodging practices

Apple is not done facing tax-related inquiries, The Financial Times reports, as the European Union is investigating the company’s tax deal with Ireland. Preliminary findings apparently claim that Apple has benefited from illegal state aid after it reached certain special agreements with the Irish government that others companies based in the region — including Amazon, Facebook, PayPal and Twitter — do not enjoy. More →

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