In the past five years, Wester has established a good reputation as a top regulator in the world’s technology industry. She oversees competition in Europe and has imposed a fine of more than $9 billion on Google for violating antitrust laws and forced Apple to pay up about $14.5 billion in taxes.
Editor’s note: This article is from Tencent Technology.
EU Antitrust Commissioner Margrethe Vestager
November 20 news, according to foreign media reports, EU antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager (Margrethe Vestager) has won praise for its strict supervision of the technology industry. Now, with more authorization from the EU, she has envisioned a more radical agenda. She said: “We will not leave the final decision to market forces.”
In the past five years, Wester has established a strong reputation as a top regulator in the world’s technology industry. She oversees competition in Europe and has imposed a fine of more than $9 billion on Google for violating antitrust laws and forced Apple to pay up about $14.5 billion in taxes.
But now, Westerg believes that this work that has made her a hero in the eyes of technical critics is not deep enough. She said that the largest technology companies continue to test the limits of antitrust laws, continue unethical behavior, and counter the government’s intervention. However, the public’s growing doubts about the power of technology have given her the opportunity to take a tougher approach. Westerg said in an interview: “In the past five years, many dark sides of digital technology have emerged.”
Therefore, the 51-year-old former Danish MP is doubling his bet. Westerge accepted a rare second five-year term as head of the antitrust department of the European Commission and assumed more responsibility for the digital policy of 28 member states.
Get a new license, and Westerge outlines an agenda that directly targets technology giants. She is weighing whether to remove certain protection measures that have protected large Internet platforms from liability for content posted by users. Wester is also developing policies to allow companies to pay more taxes in Europe and to investigate how these companies use data to keep competitors out.
Westerge pledged to develop the world’s first regulations on artificial intelligence (AI) and called for the collective bargaining power to be given to so-called odd jobs economic workers such as Uber drivers. Previously, a survey of Amazon’s use of data to gain advantage over competitors and her investigation of Facebook and Apple’s allegations of unfair business practices. David Balto, a former attorney in the antitrust department at the US Department of Justice, said: “She has achieved these achievements, but she didn’t get as much as she wanted, and now she can be more aggressive.” p>
But Westergue’s agenda is equivalent to a “wish list”. Her success will depend on the support and cooperation of other European officials who are already struggling to cope with the challenges of Britain’s withdrawal from the EU, the rise of populism and the tense relationship with the United States. In addition, they also need to face the ruthless boycott from technology companies. Westerg said: “Of course, the important thing is to prioritize, otherwise you will run in vain for a very long time.”
Personally, Wester’s attitude is contrary to her tough reputation as a law enforcer. She always looks polite and greets guests by offering tea and apologizing for a sustained cold. She is a very challenging interviewer, who likes to use long speeches to delay time and rarely change topics that are often repeated. As a seasoned politician, she showed a humble side while not completely avoiding the spotlight. In her hallway outside the office, she wrote “Westerge Street” in Danish.
Westerge quickly accused her of dismissing unfair criticism of US technology companies, including many technology company executives and President Trump’s criticism. Apple CEO Tim Cook said that in 2016 Apple’s punishment for evading Irish tax revenue was “purely political nonsense”. Google is appealing for her three penalties. Trump even declared: “She hates the United States, perhaps more hate than anyone I have ever seen.”
If there is any difference, it is that the US government is turning to Vistel’s technical skepticism. US federal, state, and congressional investigators are reviewing unfair business practices in the technology industry. Westerg said she saw opportunities for cooperation but was awaiting the progress of the investigation. She said: “Obviously, it is very interesting to see such a result.”
As the United States begins to investigate Amazon, Apple, Facebook, and Google, many US officials are trying to learn from European efforts. The surveys of Google and other companies took years to complete, giving these companies extra time to consolidate their dominance. Critics say that once the investigation is completed, the penalties are concentrated on the huge fines that the company can easily afford, rather than enforcing structural reforms to restore competition.
Luther Lowe, director of public policy at Yelp, a review site, often criticizes Google’s behavior, he praisesVieste’s efforts. But he said that companies like Yelp “have not seen any actual signs of relief, although they have the upper hand in terms of concept.” He said that Westerge needs to use all the powers she has, “or be given new powers.”
Vistg said that some of the criticisms are justified. She is taking steps to speed up the investigation and is implementing a rarely used rule – “interim measures”, which means that during the investigation, a stop and termination order is issued to the company, asking them to stop Act in a way.
She will play a leading role in the European Union (EU) debate on a new Digital Services Act, which may revolutionize the way the Internet works, including forcing online platforms to be removed. Illegal content, otherwise the risk of fines and other penalties will be faced. Westerge said that Facebook must stop the spread of false and misleading information, violent material and hate speech more quickly. She pointed out: “You have to delete them because they will spread like a virus. But if the action is not fast enough, we will eventually have to supervise it.”
Westerge is still concerned about whether the biggest tech companies are crowding out companies that rely on them to reach customers. Amazon is under investigation for unfair treatment of third-party sellers, which offer products similar to those sold by Amazon’s own brands. Apple is being questioned for being accused of using the app store to damage competitors such as Spotify. Westerge asked: “Some platforms, they are both players and referees. How can this be fair? You will never accept a football match that is also a referee.”
In Europe, a broader debate about the lack of local technology giants is underway. For example, French President Emmanuel Macron called on the government to provide more support to European companies. Ursula Von Der Leyen, the new chairman of the European Commission appointed to Westergue, called on Europe to achieve “technical sovereignty”.
The company facing the Westerg review warned not to over-regulate the regulation. Christian Borggreen, vice president of the Brussels Computer and Communications Industry Association, warned that the new law could put Europe at a disadvantage. The association is an industry organization representing Apple, Google and other large technology companies. Boglin said: “We hope that future EU legislation will be based on evidence and will never be an excuse for protectionism.”
In this regard, Westerg has said that European companies must compete according to their own advantages. “One of the main reasons why US technology companies are popular in Europe is that their products are good,” she said. She added that her job is to cut corners at these companies.Intervene. Westerge also said that Europe must form its own regulatory approach. She said: “Market power is very popular, but we will not let market forces have the final decision. After all, the market is not perfect. (Tencent Technology Review / Jinlu)