00:00 Speaker A
EU regulators are continuing their crackdown on Big Tech with actions against Apple and Alphabet. Under new rules, Apple must let rival makers of devices, like smart watches and headsets, access its tech and operating systems. That will make it easier for third-party devices to connect to Apple products, as well as develop their own alternatives to Apple features, like AirDrop and AirPlay. The EU Commission says the rules will lead to better choices for consumers and ensure a level playing field for tech companies in Europe. Apple slammed the decision in a statement to Reuters, calling it bad for its products and its users. And Alphabet’s Google was hit with two charges of breaking landmark EU rules. The rules here, as regulators are accusing the search giant of preferential treatment in its search and Google Play products. If it’s found guilty in this case, the company faces fines of as much as 10% of its global annual sales. President Trump has threatened additional tariffs over the EU’s crackdown on US tech, claiming it amounts to overseas extortion.
