[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”intro” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Thirteen privacy-focused companies, including Thexyz, Proton, and Mozilla, have signed a letter asking House and Senate leaders to bring the American Innovation and Choice Online Act to a vote as soon as possible to allow for more competition and therefore more privacy options for consumers. This is in relation to the #AntitrustSummer campaign<\/strong><\/a>, from Fight For The Future<\/strong> and DuckDuckGo<\/strong>, that coordinated various technology companies representing more than 100 million users in the United States alone.<\/p>\n The letter is available to see on the Spread Privacy Blog<\/strong><\/a> by DuckDuckgo and in this post, I am to simplify what this bill means for people.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”The American Innovation and Choice Online Act” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AntitrustVoteNow-1.gif” alt=”The American Innovation and Choice Online Act” title_text=”AntitrustVoteNow-1″ align=”center” admin_label=”Image – what is The American Innovation and Choice Online Act” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”read about” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Here is a link to read about the Bill in more detail: https:\/\/www.congress.gov\/bill\/117th-congress\/senate-bill\/2992\/text<\/a><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”Apple, Google, Amazon, Facebook, and Microsoft are not fans of the legislation” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AntitrustVoteNow-2.gif” alt=”The Bill” title_text=”AntitrustVoteNow-2″ align=”center” admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”ad spending” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Google, Apple, Amazon, Meta and have poured US$95 million into efforts to discredit these bills.<\/p>\n Source: Bloomberg<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”More choice and less data-driven targeting and manipulation” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AntitrustVoteNow-3.gif” alt=”The Bill aims” title_text=”AntitrustVoteNow-3″ align=”center” admin_label=”image – the bill aims” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_blurb admin_label=”Source: https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n In 2020 an antitrust subcommittee of the Judiciary Committee released a scathing 449-page report describing dozens of instances where big tech firms misused their power, revealing corporate cultures bent on doing what they could to maintain dominance over large portions of the internet.<\/p>\n Source: https:\/\/judiciary.house.gov<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text admin_label=”To qualify, platforms must also involve user-generated content” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/AntitrustVoteNow-4.gif” alt=”The Bill aims” title_text=”AntitrustVoteNow-4″ align=”center” admin_label=”image – the bill applies to” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_blurb _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n The legislation only applies if a company has a certain size or global reach: a market cap of at least $550 billion in the last 12 months or at least 1 billion global users.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_blurb][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text how it will effect title” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Big tech would no longer be able to design algorithms to favor their own products: The bill would end a platform\u2019s dominance to \u201cself-preference,\u201d or favor its own products over those of competitors in rankings, search, or marketplaces.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”google chrome uninstall” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-uninstall.gif” alt=”Uninstall not allowed” title_text=”antitrust-uninstall” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”google chrome uninstall” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Google installs its default apps on Android. Fair enough, but what if you wish to use another app? Sure, you can use the other app but you can’t remove the default Google software. Even if you click uninstall, it takes you on an endless loop, of Uninstall, then Update, once you press Update, you can click Uninstall only for the Update option to reappear.<\/p>\n This is the same for Gmail on Android, it cannot be uninstalled, confusing many that they actually need to create a Gmail mailbox just to use their phone. Google adds its own bloatware apps to your Android mobile devices, these are added at the system level and locked by Google to prevent users from uninstalling them.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-chrome-issue.jpg” alt=”Uninstall Google Chrome” title_text=”google-chrome-issue” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-chrome-uninstall.jpg” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”dark patterns with google sign up” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-hidden.gif” alt=”Dark Patterns GIF” title_text=”antitrust-hidden” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”dark patterns with google sign up” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Google is quite fond of Dark Patterns<\/strong><\/em><\/a>, you can see evidence of this when you sign up for a Google account. Many people think they need a Gmail mailbox to create a Google account. This leads to all sorts of problems when using technology as they may lose access to the Gmail account and not be able to reset a password. It often leads to Contact duplication on a mobile device as Google makes itself the default for Contact synchronization. This helpful GIF<\/a> shows people all that is needed to do, to allow for creating a Google account without Gmail.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-account.gif” alt=”Google Account” title_text=”google-account” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”More choice and competitive pricing on flights” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-choice.gif” alt=”Choice over software” title_text=”antitrust-choice” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”More choice and competitive pricing on flights” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Search for any flight in Google and you will get a Google search box with deals Google wants you to see. These deals include a commission for Google and may not be the price. Google uses cookies to see when you\u2019re looking for flights and will bump up your prices accordingly. Sure, you can use a VPN and make yourself appear to be in your destination city or country, and also block cookies. Does the average internet-user go to these lengths when booking a flight? With this antitrust bill, they simply won’t have to.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/google-flights.png” alt=”Google Flights” title_text=”google flights” align=”center” admin_label=”Image – google flights” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Search results” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-gmail.gif” alt=”Gmail for email” title_text=”antitrust-gmail” align=”center” admin_label=”Image GIF” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”Search results” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Do a search for the term “email<\/em>” on Google search and 4 out of the top 6 results point to Google. Amazon employs a similar practice with its marketplace and so does the Microsoft Store with its Marketplace.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/email-search-term.png” alt=”email search results in Google” title_text=”email-search-term” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”microsoft block” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-microsoft.gif” alt=”Blocked by Microsoft” title_text=”antitrust-microsoft” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”microsoft block” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]Companies like Microsoft often manufacture technical difficulties for their users, by abusing their power in an effort to block people from using alternative services. Users of Thexyz email recently reported that they were unable to use Microsoft Teams. We made an announcement<\/strong> <\/a>on this and included a workaround so if people have to use Microsoft Teams, we at least have a workaround. When we reached out to Microsoft, they repeatedly told us that it would not be possible to remove the block<\/strong>. The same thing was told to our friends at Tutanota<\/a>, until the press picked up on the story. Microsoft remains blocked for users of Thexyz.<\/p>\n Our blog post on Zoom alternatives has some reliable options if you are blocked from using Microsoft Teams. We also have listed several alternatives to Microsoft Office, including some free, open-source projects. [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/images\/support\/thexyz-ms.png” alt=”email search results in Google” title_text=”email-search-term” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”apple issues” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-ios.gif” alt=”iOS no longer supporting this” title_text=”antitrust-ios” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”apple issues” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Apple is known for its higher-priced products. People who use Apple products are often more conditioned to purchase things that they can otherwise get for free. This is great news for iOS developers like myself who may offer an application or software for free on Android, but make it only available for purchase on iOS. There is a reason for this, to join the Google Developer Program, there is a one-time fee of $25, whereas Apple charges developers $130 per year to keep their applications listed on the iOS app marketplace. It is also much more difficult to build for Apple due to its proprietary policies. For example, when the app is ready to be uploaded, you are blocked from uploading unless you use a recently purchased Apple computer. I experienced this problem recently as the Apple computer here is over 3 years old and now past Apple’s long-term support cycle. I had to get someone else to upload it for me.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/curious-penguins-app-store.png” alt=”Curious Penguins” title_text=”curious-penguins-app-store” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”seatsale” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/antitrust-seatsale.gif” alt=”Steve Mann ‘SeatSale'” title_text=”antitrust-seatsale” align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”seatsale” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Companies also couldn\u2019t impose \u201cpay to play\u201d restrictions as in the Vice documentary on farmers fighting John Deere’s repair monopoly, called “Tractor Hacking<\/strong><\/a>.” The AICOA bill would prevent big tech from requiring that businesses buy additional goods and services or use specific payment processors in order to access a platform.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Inventor, Steve Mann, often referred to as the father of wearable computing created a seat that demonstrates these kinds of paywalls in a piece called “SeatSale<\/strong><\/a>.”\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.thexyz.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/seatsale_composite_und2-scaled.jpg” alt=”SeatSale by Steve Mann” title_text=”seatsale_composite_und2″ align=”center” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/14379416″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Concl” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n There has been a lot of discussion on these antitrust bills over the past few days, here are some tweets and articles in the press to continue the discussion.\u00a0<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_2,1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Steve Mann Tweet” _builder_version=”4.17.6″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n BMW starts selling heated seat subscriptions for $18 a month: pay to unlock features you already have! — Steve Mann (@Hydraulist) July 13, 2022<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n What is The American Innovation and Choice Online Act?<\/h2>\n
Big tech are not fans of the legislation<\/h2>\n
More choice and less data-driven targeting and manipulation<\/h2>\n
To qualify, platforms must also involve user-generated content<\/h2>\n
How will the antitrust bill affect online services?<\/h2>\n
You may finally be allowed to uninstall the default app<\/h2>\n
Removing dark patterns from the sign up process<\/h2>\n
More choice and competitive pricing on flights<\/h2>\n
Favored search results appear at the top<\/h2>\n
Tech giants will no longer be allowed to block alternative services<\/h2>\n
Apple would not be able to make things difficult for people and environmentally unfriendly for the planet<\/h2>\n
Paying a subscription to unlock features you already have<\/h2>\n
Continue the conversation on Twitter<\/h2>\n
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See https:\/\/t.co\/fvQk8CGstJ<\/a>#software<\/a> #scarcity<\/a> #artificialscarcity<\/a> #softwareistheft<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/9VcYQfozse<\/a><\/p>\n