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[-] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 168 points 3 weeks ago

Google in 2024: Net profit: $100 billion

The government: "here is a tiny fine that you can't even see in a microscope."

[-] xorollo@leminal.space 51 points 3 weeks ago

That does nothing to help anyone hurt by the actions.

[-] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 27 points 3 weeks ago

Hey, they're gonna get their $2.97 checks. That's a gallon of gas somewhere.

[-] Cethin@lemmy.zip 6 points 3 weeks ago

I agree, but one thing that people always miss with these kinds of rulings is that they generally come with increased oversight and greater fines for repeat offenses. They're more likely to be caught if they try it again, and it'll grow until it actually hurts.

Still, this should be a lot larger. They should be trying to dissuade first-time offenses as well, not letting them take advantage of the system for profit because it won't hurt much when they're found out.

[-] DonutsRMeh@lemmy.world 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

In theory, yes, but governments won't do that. They worry that corporations would leave their states and they lose on employment and tax revenue. That's why they fine them very carefully to begin with.

[-] Cethin@lemmy.zip 1 points 3 weeks ago

If you're talking about the first paragraph, then no, that's literally what they do.

[-] CatsGoMOW@lemmy.world 108 points 3 weeks ago

That’s a rounding error for them.

[-] Townlately@feddit.nl 31 points 3 weeks ago
[-] voodooattack@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

So small it’s almost imaginary

[-] misterdoctor@lemmy.world 93 points 3 weeks ago

Alt text: a screenshot from final fantasy tactics with a character saying: “If the penalty for a crime is a fine, then that law only exists for the lower class.”

[-] Tuuktuuk@sopuli.xyz 39 points 3 weeks ago

Assuming the fine isn't progressive, of course.

Over here in Finland fines for any but the minor offences are defined in percents of income, not in fixed sums of money. There have been cases of traffic fines of several hundreds of thousands for going 30 km/h over the speed limit. That makes them a punishment for very richest people as well, not only for the lower class.

[-] Lifter@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 3 weeks ago

Except capital income can be hidden in other countries, still giving an unfair advantage to the super rich.

[-] VindictiveJudge@lemmy.world 11 points 3 weeks ago

That's actually shopped. The game's writer said he wishes he wrote that line, though.

[-] modifier@lemmy.ca 79 points 3 weeks ago

Years ago, when this policy was first being contemplated, someone at google plugged a number, likely larger than this, into a spreadsheet analyzing the cost/benefit of spying on their customers.

This is just post-activation operating expense from their perspective.

[-] A_Random_Idiot@lemmy.world 87 points 3 weeks ago

Google made 100 billion last year.

300 million is barely a blip.

The fine should have been 30 billion.

if the fines arent big enough to seriously hurt a company, Then the fines are not big enough to change their behavior.

They just become a tax on evil.

[-] glorptex@lemmy.world 10 points 3 weeks ago

They should definitely be higher than what they are, even the GDPR fines are a joke, its likely added to a line "legal expenses" in their expenses.

While it looks like the EU fines are ramping up over time, it still just feels silly right now. But I guess that is intentional.

[-] paraphrand@lemmy.world 51 points 3 weeks ago

Don’t we ban Chinese phones for the same actions?

[-] HugeNerd@lemmy.ca 12 points 3 weeks ago
[-] MisterFrog@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

I think the original commenter means that Google got off with a tap on the wrist

[-] ramenshaman@lemmy.world 35 points 3 weeks ago
[-] answersplease77@lemmy.world 8 points 3 weeks ago

cries in cheap phone that doesn't flash GrapheneOS

[-] Gowron_Howard@lemmy.world 33 points 3 weeks ago

A fine is the cost of doing business. Unless something changes they’ll keep doing it.

[-] RagingRobot@lemmy.world 12 points 3 weeks ago

It's just the government's cut since they don't pay much in taxes.

[-] Doom@ttrpg.network 6 points 3 weeks ago

And it isn't like the victims see any of it

[-] treadful@lemmy.zip 17 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Doesn't sound like the suit was about the collection at all and just about the data transmission costing users mobile data usage.

Vague articles are vague.

[-] poopkins@lemmy.world 15 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

The linked Reuters article provides a bit more context:

The jury agreed with the plaintiffs that Alphabet's Google (GOOGL.O), was liable for sending and receiving information from the devices without permission while they were idle, causing what the lawsuit had called "mandatory and unavoidable burdens shouldered by Android device users for Google's benefit."

[…]

Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said in a statement that the company would appeal, and that the verdict "misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices."

[-] trashboat@midwest.social 5 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

opens new tab

the verdict "misunderstands services that are critical to the security, performance, and reliability of Android devices."

Ummmm maybe I’m misunderstanding but how on earth is opening a new tab critical to security and performance?

[-] gex@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

I think that's just part of the label of a link to Google's stock ticker

[-] poopkins@lemmy.world 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yes, indeed this was just a copy error. Thanks for pointing it out.

[-] lukaro@lemmy.zip 11 points 3 weeks ago

I don't chase dropped pennies, and I don't think google does either!

[-] thatradomguy@lemmy.world 9 points 3 weeks ago

So when are we all finally going to ditch Google/Apple and move on to actual FOSS phones like Librem5 or Fairphone?

[-] cyberpunk007@lemmy.ca 22 points 3 weeks ago

When they are good.

Another problem I have is multifactor apps. Can I get duo on a Linux phone? Or banking apps? Some software sends notifications to the phone to log in on a computer, for example.

I'm sure I could get around it, but ultimately I just want a good camera.

[-] HiddenLychee@lemmy.world 6 points 3 weeks ago

Yeah, I need to know that Microsoft authenticator, duo mobile, all banking and trading apps, Venmo, and steam guard work on Linux. I know a lot of banking apps do, but if duo mobile doesn't, I'm locked out of my work.

[-] FelixCress@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago

Which one allows me to actually control my phone and reject all the updates?

[-] lauha@lemmy.world 1 points 3 weeks ago
[-] NGnius@lemmy.ca 5 points 3 weeks ago

They submitted kernel patches for (at least some) support of the FP6 the day it released. The preinstalled OS isn't FOSS though a good few FOSS OSs/distros support their older phones (and presumably the FP6 eventually).

So the answer is... sort of? Personally I just think they're just FOSS-friendly

Oh noes

They're shivering in their boots

this post was submitted on 04 Jul 2025
792 points (100.0% liked)

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