Do you develop on GitHub? You can keep using GitHub but automatically [**sync your GitHub releases to SourceForge**](https://sourceforge.net/p/forge/documentation/GitHub%20Importer/) quickly and easily with **[this tool](https://sourceforge.net/p/import_project/github/)** so your projects have a backup location, and get your project in front of SourceForge's nearly 20 million monthly users. It takes less than a minute. Get new users downloading your project releases today! × 176120801 story [](//tech.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=china)[](//tech.slashdot.org/index2.pl?fhfilter=google) Posted by msmash on Tuesday February 04, 2025 @09:00AM from the swift-retaliation dept. China said Tuesday it has [launched an antitrust investigation into Google](https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/03/china-hits-back-at-trump-tariffs-with-google-antitrust-investigation/), part of a swift retaliation after the U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on Chinese goods. From a report: _The probe by China's State Administration for Market Regulation will examine alleged monopolistic practices by the U.S. tech giant, which has had its search and internet services blocked in China since 2010 but maintains operations there primarily focused on advertising._

China has announced a flurry of retaliatory measures against the U.S., including tariffs on imports of products such as coal, liquefied natural gas products and crude oil, as well as an antitrust probe into Google HONG KONG -- China on Tuesday announced a flurry of [retaliatory measures against the U.S.,](https://apnews.com/article/china-tariffs-us-trump-150fab3a44ec055845e47c82bde544c2) including tariffs on imports of products such as coal, liquefied natural gas products and crude oil, as well as an antitrust probe into Google. It also placed two other U.S. firms on an unreliable entity list that could bar them from investing in China. China and Google have had a long and entangled relationship going back to the early 2000s. Here's a look at Google's history in China and what the antitrust probe means for the company: Google launched Chinese-language search engine google.cn in 2006. It was censored to comply with Beijing’s laws, and in 2009, was a major search engine in China with about 36% market share. In 2010, in response to a cyberattack and an increasing [unwillingness to comply with censorship rules,](https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-f822d49550b8b2c9930eac9946283e36) Google said it was no longer willing to block search results and [shut down its Chinese search engine,](https://apnews.com/article/technology-business-china-social-media-bcce585da6268eaab599b1f3c85b74d4) redirecting users to its Hong Kong site instead. Beijing later blocked Google services under its Great Firewall censorship system, including its email service Gmail, as well as its Chrome browser and search engine, making it inaccessible to users in mainland China. China typically blocks most Western internet platforms, such as Google, as well as social media platforms including Facebook and Instagram. Although Google services are not accessible in China, the company still maintains a presence in the country, primarily focused on sales and engineering for its advertising business. It also has employees working on services including Google Cloud and customer solutions. Google maintains offices in the major Chinese cities Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen. China’s State Administration for Market Regulation said Tuesday it was investigating Google on suspicion of violating antitrust laws. While regulators did not provide further details, the announcement came minutes after the [10% tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump](https://apnews.com/article/trumps-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-taxes-910cf9a18fce654597a30dbaaa8d1576) came into effect. As there are few details on what exactly Google is being investigated for, the immediate impact on Google operations is unclear, although its current status is unlikely to be affected by the probe, which could takes months. Google did not immediately comment on the investigation. Some experts believe that the antitrust investigation is likely to center around Google’s Android operating system for smartphones and used as a bargaining chip in the U.S.-China trade war. John Gong, a professor of economics at the University of International Business and Economics, said that the investigation could be related to Google’s dominance in the Android business, as virtually all smartphone brands apart from Apple and Huawei would have to pay licensing fees to Google to use the Android system on their devices. “Now, this time, Google is put on the chopping board. But I think it’s still an investigation, right? It hasn’t reached a decision yet,” said Gong, adding, "I think it’s very much negotiable.” Huawei developed its own [HarmonyOS operating system](https://apnews.com/article/operating-systems-smartphones-technology-business-412ee1e62457e54a742f5ab53d25e4a4) after it was placed on the U.S. entity list — foreign individuals, companies and organizations deemed a national security concern — in 2019, which prevented it from doing business with U.S. firms including Google. Google has been accused of [violating antitrust law](https://apnews.com/article/google-european-union-antitrust-shopping-court-a281e4e4722efa816e929a52a9939d86) in other countries, including those in the European Union, South Korea, Russia, India and Turkey, for allegedly abusing its market dominance. \_\_\_ Associated Press writer Ken Moritsugu in Beijing contributed to this report.

[Apple](https://www.fastcompany.com/91294577/what-the-break-up-of-google-could-mean-for-apple-and-other-tech-companies) has successfully blocked its opponents in [India](https://www.fastcompany.com/91281873/google-looking-this-location-first-retail-stores-outside-u-s), Tinder-owner Match and a group of startups, from accessing its commercially sensitive information which was part of [antitrust](https://www.fastcompany.com/91139164/india-antitrust-law-big-tech-apple-google-meta-amazon) findings against the U.S. firm, a confidential order shows. An investigation by the Competition Commission of India (CCI) last year found Apple exploited its dominant position in the market for app stores on its iOS operating system to the detriment of app developers, users and other payment processors. Apple has denied wrongdoing and said it is a small player in India where phones using Google’s operating system are dominant. The investigation process has concluded but CCI’s senior members are yet to review the findings and pass a final ruling, which could force Apple to pay fines and even change its practices if the company is confirmed to have indulged in wrongdoing. Apple’s opposing parties in the case—Match and startup group Alliance of Digital India Foundation (ADIF)—asked the CCI to allow access to certain confidential information which include developer payouts and details of total billings, but were redacted when investigation reports were shared with parties. Match argued Apple had been “claiming excessive and unwarranted redactions in its submissions” across the world “to hinder effective scrutiny of its practices”, but the CCI did not agree and ruled in favour of Apple, according to a 13-page confidential order issued on March 3 and seen by Reuters. The order noted Apple’s comments, saying “the very fact that Match is involved in similar antitrust proceedings” with the company elsewhere will cause Apple harm if its commercially sensitive information is provided to Match. Expand to continue reading ↓

European Union regulators say they’ll seek feedback on Microsoft’s latest proposed changes to Teams to ease competition concerns BRUSSELS -- European Union regulators will seek public comment on proposed changes from Microsoft for Teams, signaling the U.S. company may be nearing the end of a long-running antitrust case targeting its messaging and videoconferencing app. Microsoft had previously offered some modifications including [unbundling Teams](https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-office-teams-slack-antitrust-europe-b6c2a18f5420ddd553a4cb6ab79f838f) from its Office software suite in an attempt to head off the antitrust probe shortly after it [was opened by the EU two years ago](https://apnews.com/article/eu-microsoft-antitrust-investigation-teams-office-d7a6f5727387bae9b427d560218be84f). But those proposals didn't satisfy the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top competition enforcer, which [accused Microsoft](https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-teams-eu-european-union-antitrust-26d11ada00f504d537d1b054dd6f6bbf) last year of potentially abusive behavior. The Commission said Friday that it will now seek feedback on fresh commitments Microsoft has made to resolve the competition worries. That includes making the Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software packages available at a discount without Teams, and letting customers switch between packages without Teams. The company is also promising to make it easier for rival software to work with Teams and for users to move their data from Teams to to competing products. The commission said in a press release that it “invites all interested parties to submit their views" on Microsoft's proposals. If everyone is satisfied, they would become legally binding. The Redmond, Wash.-based company is “hopeful” the Commission will “in the following months adopt a final decision closing its investigation," Microsoft s vice president in charge of European government affairs, Nanna-Louise Linde, said in a blog post. Microsoft's commitments would be in force for up to 10 years, the Commission said. The company could incur fines worth up to 10% of its annual global revenues — which could run into tens of billions of euros — if it fails to honor them The Teams investigation dates back to 2020, when Slack Technologies, which makes popular workplace messaging software, filed a [complaint](https://slack.com/intl/en-gb/blog/news/slack-files-eu-competition-complaint-against-microsoft). Slack, owned by business software maker Salesforce, alleged that Microsoft was abusing its market dominance to eliminate competition — in violation of EU laws — by illegally combining Teams with its Office suite, which includes Word, Excel and Outlook. Salesforce President Sabastian Niles said the latest announcement “affirms that Microsoft’s anticompetitive practices with Teams have harmed competition and require a binding, enforceable, and effective remedy. We will carefully scrutinize Microsoft’s proposed commitments.” \_\_\_ AP Business Writer Kelvin Chan contributed from London.

European Union regulators have accepted Microsoft's proposed changes to its Teams app to resolve an antitrust investigation LONDON -- European Union regulators have accepted Microsoft's [proposed changes](https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-teams-european-union-antitrust-12d94e91ff733559ccf63e22263e545d) to Teams, resolving a long-running antitrust investigation that targeted the company's messaging and videoconferencing app. The European Commission said in a statement Friday that Microsoft's final commitments to unbundle Teams from its Office software suite, including further tweaks following a market test in May and June, are enough to satisfy competition concerns. The legally binding commitments will remain in force for up to 10 years and allow the company to avoid a potentially hefty fine. “We appreciate the dialogue with the Commission that led to this agreement, and we turn now to implementing these new obligations promptly and fully,” Microsoft's vice president of European government affairs, Nanna-Louise Linde, said in a statement. The Commission, acting on a complaint filed by Slack Technologies, [accused Microsoft](https://apnews.com/article/microsoft-teams-eu-european-union-antitrust-26d11ada00f504d537d1b054dd6f6bbf) of “possibly abusive” practices after an investigation, saying that it was tying the Teams app to its widely used Office business software suite, which includes Word, Excel and Outlook. Slack, now owned by Salesforce, makes popular workplace messaging software. [  ](https://abcnews.go.com/US/charlie-kirk-shooting-fbi-appeals-tips-manhunt-continues/story?id=125469211) [  ](https://abcnews.go.com/US/charlie-kirk-shot-event-utah-university-jd-vance/story?id=125451514) [  ](https://abcnews.go.com/US/minnesota-school-shooting-suspect-robin-westman/story?id=125029777) Microsoft responded by proposing to make its Office 365 and Microsoft 365 software packages available at a discount without Teams, and to let customers switch to packages without Teams. The company also promised to make it easier for rival software to work with Teams and for users to move their data to competing products. “Today’s decision therefore opens up competition in this crucial market, and ensures that businesses can freely choose the communication and collaboration product that best suits their needs,” said Teresa Ribera, the European Commission’s executive vice-president overseeing competition affairs. The announcement comes a week after the Commission, the 27-nation bloc’s top antitrust authority, [fined Google](https://apnews.com/article/google-european-union-antitrust-digital-ca4a31c3f7cf7d33ea9c4748bc3ac459) nearly 3 billion euros ($3.5 billion) because its ad-tech business breached competition rules, prompting President Donald Trump to threaten retaliation.

© 2025 ABC News

The European Union has launched a formal antitrust investigation into Meta Platforms Inc.'s artificial intelligence (AI) policy for WhatsApp, marking the bloc's latest move to curb Big Tech dominance and threatening a temporary ban on the rollout of new features.  AI Generated Image EU antitrust chief Teresa Ribera said Thursday she is considering interim measures "to ensure that this could not blow up," speaking to reporters in Brussels. The investigation targets suspicions that WhatsApp AI tools may unfairly prevent rival AI providers from offering business services through the platform, potentially giving Meta's integrated AI system an advantage. Under EU competition rules, regulators can order temporary halts to suspect business practices, though such demands may be challenged in Luxembourg courts. Eventual fines for breaching antitrust rules can reach 10% of global annual revenue. Meta will now be required to submit solutions to address regulators' concerns. The probe comes just 10 days after U.S. trade officials visited Brussels and warned that tariffs on EU steel and aluminium could remain if digital rules targeting Big Tech were not watered down, potentially straining transatlantic relations as the Trump administration accuses Brussels of targeting American firms. #### Investigation Targets WhatsApp Business API Restrictions The Commission is examining a Meta policy fully applicable from January 15 next year that may block competing AI providers from reaching customers via WhatsApp. Until October, businesses could deploy AI bots in WhatsApp business-managed chat groups to handle client issues or provide support services, but Meta's new rules could curb such integrations. Meta integrated its AI system into WhatsApp across European markets in March. The new policy raises concerns that the company could leverage its dominant position to crowd out competitors in the messaging-based AI ecosystem. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst Tamlin Bason said the probe "likely targets a quick settlement" and that regulators are "prioritizing the certainty of established competition law to block Meta's conduct" rather than the newer Digital Markets Act. "By flagging this probe as a 'priority' ahead of Meta's January implementation date, the EU likely aims to force a relatively quick resolution," Bason wrote. #### Complaints from AI Developers Trigger Probe Ribera said the investigation came following complaints from small AI developers about the WhatsApp policy. The Interaction Company of California, which owns AI assistant Poke.com, has taken its grievance to EU enforcers. CEO and co-founder Marvin von Hagen said "swift intervention by the commission is of utmost importance," warning that millions of European consumers would be deprived of innovative AI assistants if Meta's policy proceeds. Spanish AI startup Luzia, which claims more than 85 million users globally, has also filed complaints. "WhatsApp remains a key channel for discovery and access," said Pablo Delgado, Luzia's head of brands and communications. "If this policy remains in place, that gateway will close for millions of users and many businesses that depend on it." Italy's antitrust watchdog opened a parallel investigation in July and expanded it in November. The Commission said its case would exclude Italy to "avoid an overlap" as the nation's competition authority pursues its own temporary curbs on Meta's plans. #### Meta Dismisses Claims as AI Competition Intensifies A WhatsApp spokesperson called the claims "baseless," stating that AI chatbots on its Business API "puts a strain on our systems that they were not designed to support." The spokesperson added that "the AI space is highly competitive and people have access to the services of their choice in any number of ways, including app stores, search engines, email services, partnership integrations, and operating systems." The Commission said the formal investigation does not prejudge its outcome. Meta has faced mounting EU scrutiny, receiving a €200 million fine in April for allegedly breaching the Digital Markets Act, and a €798 million penalty in November for tying Facebook Marketplace to its social network. #### U.S. Opposition Complicates European Tech Crackdown U.S. President Donald Trump has long criticized EU tech and antitrust regulation impeding American companies. In August, he threatened fresh tariffs and export restrictions on advanced technology and semiconductors in retaliation to digital services taxes hitting US technology firms. The EU has ramped up pressure on Silicon Valley firms in recent years, seeking to curb potential market abuses as a handful of operators wield significant power across the digital sector. Aside from standard antitrust rules, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) has established requirements for major players to prevent anti-competitive behavior. The probe, though not launched under the DMA, could complicate EU-U.S. talks over tariffs as high as 50%, with the Trump administration accusing Brussels of targeting American companies and calling EU fines a "tax."