Europe has taken a course towards the unification of devices and applications and closely follows the activities of large technology corporations. Previously, the EU insisted that Apple switch its iPhones from Lightning ports to USB-C ports, which was a colossal advance in antitrust policy. And now it has been revealed that Google has committed to making changes to various products and services to comply with EU laws on transparency and provision of information to consumers.
Following discussions with the European Commission’s Consumer Protection Cooperation (CPC) Network, Google said it would make the policies of the Google Store, Google Play Store, Google Hotels and Google Flights more transparent, writes Gizmochina.
Justice Commissioner Didier Reynders said consumers in the EU have the right to clear and complete information so they can make informed decisions and therefore Google must comply with geo-blocking rules.
The regulation ensures that consumers can enjoy the same rights and access the same content across Europe, regardless of their location.
Google Hotels and Google Flights will show more detailed information on prices, discounts and accommodation availability, which will be the same for everyone and will not be linked to geolocation.
In the Google Play Store, the company intends to provide more complete and detailed information about itself as a legal entity (including official name and current address).
The corporation also commits to creating an additional email address for consumer protection authorities so that customers can report and request removal of illegal content, and to post extended contact details (not just chats, but also a number of direct phone, for example).
In addition, the company promises to make it easier for consumers to navigate country-specific versions of the Google Play Store and make developers aware of their responsibility to make their apps available across the EU.
In addition, Google will allow consumers to use a variety of payment methods from anywhere in the EU.
The CPC will actively monitor compliance with these obligations, and national authorities will monitor and enforce compliance where necessary.
However, a Google practice that does not comply with geo-blocking rules is the application of technical restrictions on the use of applications that are usually available in the country where the user is temporarily located.
The CCP and national authorities have yet to study the roots of this problem in detail and find ways to solve it.
Author:
Ekaterina Alipova
Source: RB
I am Bret Jackson, a professional journalist and author for Gadget Onus, where I specialize in writing about the gaming industry. With over 6 years of experience in my field, I have built up an extensive portfolio that ranges from reviews to interviews with top figures within the industry. My work has been featured on various news sites, providing readers with insightful analysis regarding the current state of gaming culture.
