Google in 2024: Net profit: $100 billion
The government: “here is a tiny fine that you can’t even see in a microscope.”
That does nothing to help anyone hurt by the actions.
Hey, they’re gonna get their $2.97 checks. That’s a gallon of gas somewhere.
A fine is the cost of doing business. Unless something changes they’ll keep doing it.
That’s a rounding error for them.
Don’t we ban Chinese phones for the same actions?
China bad.
I think the original commenter means that Google got off with a tap on the wrist
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.
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.
If you earn like 100k a year its like being slapped with a 300 $ fine just to put it into perspective.
100k AFTER all your expenses.
So when are we all finally going to ditch Google/Apple and move on to actual FOSS phones like Librem5 or Fairphone?
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.
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.
