Author: angel

If Apple, Google and Microsoft have their way, soon we’ll be thinking of passwords as a bygone relic of the 20th century.

The FIDO Alliance — FIDO is short for “fast identity online” — said Thursday it’s working with the three companies to begin offering passwordless technology to websites and apps. Instead of using unreliable password logins, apps and websites could identify who you are with a fingerprint reader, face scanner or even your phone.

“Working with the industry to establish new, more secure sign-in methods that offer better protection and eliminate the vulnerabilities of passwords is central to our commitment to building products that offer maximum security and a transparent user experience — all with the goal of keeping users’ personal information safe,” Kurt Knight, Apple’s senior director of platform product marketing, said in a statement.

Similarly, Microsoft’s corporate vice president for identity program management, Alex Simons, said any viable product needs to be safer, easier and faster than what we use today. “The complete shift to a passwordless world will begin with consumers making it a natural part of their lives,” he said in a statement.

Google as well said it’s excited for the day “the world can safely move away from the risk and hassle of passwords.”

The announcement by the tech companies and FIDO underscore the industry’s efforts to fight the seemingly never-ending onslaught of hacking attacks that lead to theft of people’s personal information, financial fraud and security breaches at companies and governments around the world.

Read more: Make Your Passwords Stronger With These 5 Tips

Many experts agree that people’s tendency to use easily hackable passwords, and to use the same ones across many websites and apps, is one of the most important problems to solve. To do so, some people have turned to password managers, which store randomized passwords behind a central app that runs on their phone or computer. Many apps, websites and companies also now use two-factor authentication, which often sends a second password by phone or in an app, for the person to enter within a short period of time.

FIDO is hoping to streamline all these efforts into a technology standard that apps, websites and device makers can all trust and rely on. Its announcement, made in conjunction with World Password Day — intended to encourage people to do a better job securing their accounts — highlights how FIDO technology is hopefully becoming easier to use.

While FIDO is already used by hundreds of device makers and service providers, the alliance said that making its technology interoperable with more websites and apps will make it more appealing.

FIDO said it expects the new capabilities announced Thursday to arrive on devices powered by software from Apple, Google and Microsoft in the next year. We’ll likely hear more over the next month, during which all three companies typically hold their annual developer conferences to discuss new features they’re planning to offer.

Large tech companies such as Google and Facebook will have to abide by new competition rules in the UK or risk facing huge fines, the government said.

The new Digital Markets Unit (DMU) will be given powers to clamp down on “predatory practices” of some firms.

The regulator will also have the power to fine companies up to 10% of their global turnover if they fail to comply.

Besides boosting competition among tech firms, the rules also aim to give users more control over their data.

The BBC approached several of the big tech firms, including Apple, Meta and Google, but has received no response.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) said as well as large fines, tech firms could be handed additional penalties of 5% of daily global turnover for each day an offence continues.

For companies like Apple that could be tens of billions of US dollars.

“Senior managers will face civil penalties if their firms fail to engage properly with requests for information,” the government said.

However, it is unclear when exactly the changes will come into force, as the government has said the necessary legislation will be introduced “in due course”.

Europe agrees new law to curb Big Tech dominance
Digital minister Chris Philp said the government wanted to “level the playing field” in the technology industry, in which a few American companies have been accused of abusing their market dominance.

“The dominance of a few tech giants is crowding out competition and stifling innovation,” he said.

As well attempting to hold Big Tech to account, the DMU will look to give people more control over how their data is used by tech firms – for example with targeted personalised adverts.

It will also make it easier for people to switch between phone operating systems such as Apple iOS or Android and social media accounts, without losing data and messages.

Critics have called such closed systems “walled gardens” that lock consumers into using products from a specific company.

Google’s search engine, which is currently the default search engine on Apple products, will also be looked at by the regulator, the government said.

It added it wants news publishers to be paid fairly for their content – and will give the regulator power to resolve conflicts.

This move is in response to friction between Meta, Google and news publishers. The argument is that while many local and national news organisations struggle to survive, Big Tech companies are posting record profits – and raising advertising revenue from the stories they produce.

Meta and Google argue that the relationship is symbiotic, that they direct traffic towards news organisations.

Last year the situation escalated, when a proposed law in Australia looking to “level the playing the field” resulted in Facebook temporarily blocking Australian news organisations – before an agreement was reached.

The UK government said its new rules could increase the “bargaining power” of national and regional newspapers.

The issue of big tech and competition has been troubling the authorities for quite some time.

There’s no question that a handful of giants hugely dominate the market and hoover up considerable profits.

They have a captive market and they don’t want to share it. Google search is so popular “to google” is a commonly used verb. Around 90% of all internet searches are on Google’s search engine. But many have queried whether one company should have such a dominant position over a crucial part of the internet.

It also leaves businesses with little choice. Want to advertise to people searching for football boots in your area? Google would be the obvious choice. But critics argue that that its monopoly means the company can charge what it likes – and that’s ultimately bad for a healthy and competitive economy.

The UK’s new regulator has decided to focus the minds of these firms with eye-watering fines for not allowing fair competition – 10% global turnover and an extra 5% per day if the offence continues. That is mega money – even for companies worth trillions of dollars. It’s enough to get their attention.

2px presentational grey line
Also included in the plans is a move to give firms like Meta and Apple “strategic market status”, which will mean they will have to report takeovers before they complete to the Competition Markets Authority (CMA) for potential investigation.

Big Tech has long been criticised for buying up competition, as part of a strategy to “copy, acquire, kill”.

The criticism here is that fledgling business are bought up before they have the chance to get too big – and threaten the monopoly position of these companies.

Separately, it had been rumoured that the DMU would not be given a legal footing – and would therefore lack bite, however the government has said it will introduce legislation to put the regulator on a statutory footing in “due course.”

The consumer group Which? said it was “essential that the Digital Markets Unit is properly empowered” for the “sake of UK consumers and businesses”.

In an open letter, employees say Apple’s hybrid plan offers “almost no flexibility at all.”

A group of Apple employees is demanding more flexibility from the tech giant ahead of its planned return to office work later this month. In an open letter, the group, calling itself Apple Together, said the company’s plan for many employees to be in the office three fixed days a week offers “almost no flexibility at all” and could be damaging to diversity.

“The Hybrid Working Pilot is not an increase in flexibility, it is a smokescreen and often a step back in flexibility for many of our teams,” reads the letter, which was posted Friday and earlier reported by CNN. “We are not asking for everyone to be forced to work from home. We are asking to decide for ourselves, together with our teams and direct manager, what kind of arrangement works best for each one of us, be that in an office, work from home, or a hybrid approach.”

Like other tech companies, Apple delayed its return-to-office plans several times amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The iPhone maker now expects many employees to work in office at least three days a week by May 23, reported Bloomberg, though some teams may be required to be in the office more often.

Apple has already faced public pushback from some employees who’ve asked it to consider more-flexible work options, though the company’s leadership has stressed that it believes in-person collaboration is essential.

About 200 employees are engaging in the Apple Together group, according to CNN, a small portion of the company’s US workforce. The group says Apple has 100,000 direct employees in the US, including retail workers.

The Apple Together group also alleged that the hybrid plan could change the makeup of Apple’s workforce, saying it will make the company “younger, whiter, more male-dominated,” by squeezing out those who can’t relocate for a position or afford to pay for family care. In the letter, the group also said the hybrid plan doesn’t reflect the message Apple sends to customers that its products are great for remote work.

“We tell all of our customers how great our products are for remote work,” reads the letter, “yet, we ourselves, cannot use them to work remotely? How can we expect our customers to take that seriously?”

Commentary: Apple should borrow some of the iPad’s tricks to make better use of the iPhone Pro Max’s big screen.

The iPhone 13 Pro Max and 12 Pro Max are the biggest smartphones Apple has ever made. Both devices have a 6.7-inch screen, making them significantly larger than the standard 6.1-inch iPhone 13, 5.4-inch iPhone 13 Mini and 4.7-inch iPhone SE. While the hardware varies, all iPhones generally run the same software despite their size. If only there were more ways to make use of the Pro Max’s larger screen.

Luckily, there is. Apple should draw inspiration from the iPhone’s larger cousin, the iPad. Apple’s tablets are loaded with extra features that make apps easier to use on a larger screen. The company even renamed the iPad’s software “iPadOS” in 2019 to distinguish it from the iPhone’s iOS. The iPad’s interface had evolved so much by that point, it no longer made sense to lump both operating systems together.

I’m not suggesting something as drastic as a rebranding to “Pro Max OS.” But I do think both Apple and its customers could benefit from iOS 16, the next major iPhone software version, having new features that are specific to the larger-size iPhone.

Doing so wouldn’t be simple. Modifications would need to be made to bring iPad-specific features like multitasking to the iPhone Pro Max. But Apple already has a history of tailoring apps and software to specific products, as it proved with the original iPad and Apple Watch. So I’d trust it to do the same in this case.

Here are the iPad features I think would translate well to the iPhone Pro Max.

The iPhone Pro Max’s large screen is great for focusing on a single app, like reading or watching TV. But I’d love to see a version of the iPad’s multitasking capabilities on the iPhone Pro Max too. Being able to view more than one app on screen could prevent me from switching between apps so often.

Apple offers two main options for running multiple apps on the iPad’s display: Split View and Slide Over. The first is self-explanatory; it lets you divide the screen between two apps. Android phones have also offered split-screen mode for years. Slide Over is a bit different. Instead of splitting the screen, you can open an app in a floating panel that can be positioned on either side of the screen.

If Apple were to bring any of these features to the iPhone Pro Max, I think Slide Over would be the most useful. Compared to Split View mode, it’s a better way to make use of a smartphone-size screen. You’d be able to dedicate most of the screen to one app while quickly checking another. I’d love to glance at my Slack messages in a column along the side of my screen while using most of the iPhone’s display to catch up on emails.

This is an example of an iPad feature that Apple would likely have to tweak significantly for the iPhone rather than bringing over the current version. The iPhone Pro Max is big for a phone, but it’s still small compared to an iPad — even the iPad Mini.

One way Apple could make this work is by formatting Slide Over apps like interactive widgets that you can view while running another app. Widgets are already designed to display a lot of information in a space that only occupies a fraction of your phone’s screen. As such, it’s easy to imagine widget-like Slide Over apps that you can pin to any corner of the iPhone Pro Max’s display.

Still, getting the iPad’s multitasking features on the iPhone Pro Max is a long shot. Part of the iPhone’s appeal is that the software is consistent no matter which model you own, so I doubt Apple will jeopardize that. In the meantime, we are stuck with the handful of existing iPhone Pro Max-specific features that were actually introduced for the iPhone 6 Plus. For example, default apps like Mail and Messages take advantage of the iPhone Pro Max’s larger display in landscape mode to show a column of message previews alongside the currently viewed message.

Yes, I know Steve Jobs famously ridiculed the idea of using a stylus with a mobile device. But hear me out. The Apple Pencil has proven itself to be a valuable iPad companion over the last several years. Now, it’s time to bring it to the iPhone Pro Max as an optional accessory.

I’m not alone in wishing for an iPhone-compatible Apple Pencil. My colleague Patrick Holland has been begging for an Apple Pencil since he reviewed the iPhone 12 Pro Max in 2020, saying a MagSafe Apple Pencil would be “a killer accessory.”

First, consider the iPhone Pro Max’s audience. It’s for people who are willing to pay top dollar for the biggest screen and best camera available on an iPhone. The Apple Pencil seems like a natural addition to the Pro Max, both for photographers and those who just want a giant screen.

I imagine those who frequently touch up photos on their phone would benefit from editing with a stylus that’s more precise than a finger, especially since popular apps like Adobe Lightroom and Pixelmator have Apple Pencil support. An iPhone-friendly Apple Pencil could also appeal to those who often take notes or mark up documents from their phones. The rumored iPhone 14 Max, which would be a 6.7-inch version of the standard iPhone, would benefit as well from an optional pencil accessory.

The success of Samsung’s Galaxy Note line (which has now been consolidated into the Galaxy S Ultra family) also suggests there’s an audience for styluses. I have to admit I don’t find myself using the Galaxy S22 Ultra’s S Pen very often. But it has come in handy for jotting down notes during meetings or quickly capturing thoughts when I’m writing a review and happen to be away from my computer.

Again, it wouldn’t make sense to just expand the current Apple Pencil’s compatibility to the iPhone Pro Max. Instead, Apple should design a smaller version of the Pencil with a smaller tip that’s better suited for a phone-size screen.

A win for Apple and its customers

With or without these features, the iPhone Pro Max is already a hit. The iPhone 12 Pro Max was the world’s second-best-selling phone in 2021, according to data from Counterpoint Research.

There’s clearly a demand for larger-size iPhones, as evidenced by rumors that Apple will replace the iPhone Mini with another 6.7-inch iPhone this year.

But why not do more with the Pro Max? It would be a great way for Apple to further distinguish the Pro Max from its smaller and less-expensive iPhones. The additional software features would also give owners more for the price, while a Pencil would provide Apple with another opportunity to make money from current iPhone Pro Max owners. It seems like a win-win scenario.

The iPhone Pro Max’s lack of multitasking and Apple Pencil support aren’t necessarily shortcomings. But it feels like Apple is missing an opportunity.

Apple says COVID-19 disruptions and silicon shortages are hitting its business, though seemingly not as much as some other tech giants.

At nearly 15 years old, Apple’s iPhone is one of the most popular consumer products of all time. During the holidays, it helped Apple ring up record revenues and profits. And even now, with war overseas and nagging inflation at home, Apple’s fortunes are still largely tied to the iPhone.

The good news: People still keep buying them.

For its second fiscal quarter, covering the three months ending in March, Apple notched $50.6 billion in sales of iPhones, up more than 5% from the year prior. Its Mac computers, wearables and accessories continued to sell strongly as well.

But Apple warned that manufacturing and trade disruptions from COVID-19, combined with the ongoing silicon shortage, means things will likely get worse over the next few months.

“These times remind us that we cannot know what the future may hold,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said during a conference call with analysts Thursday. COVID disruptions, he noted, have been difficult to predict. He noted that disruptions from recent health lockdowns in China, among other issues, will add up to between $4 billion and $8 billion in unsold products because of lack of inventory. And that’s “substantially worse” than what happened over the past three months.

Apple’s stock closed regular trading up nearly 5% to $163.64 per share. The company’s shares have fallen about 10% so far this year.

Apple’s announcement is the latest sign of the tech giant’s staying power in a time of economic uncertainty. Major Wall Street indexes have lost value this month, with notable drops among tech stocks. Google parent Alphabet reported lower than expected sales and profit Tuesday, disappointing investors. The next day, Facebook parent Meta reported widening losses in its Reality Labs division, which makes virtual reality headsets and other associated technologies. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said he believes Reality Labs is key to the company’s future.

Other tech companies have released concerning data as well. Netflix told investors last week that it actually lost subscribers, and expected to lose 2 million more. And Amazon on Thursday said fuel prices ate into its profits.

More broadly, Russia’s invasion of and subsequent war with Ukraine has rippled across the world, rattling markets for oil, wheat and other items that both countries contribute to the world economy. Meanwhile, surging COVID-19 cases in China have prompted extended lockdowns in manufacturing facilities and at ports, disrupting food supplies and upsetting residents, leading to slowed manufacturing and trade.

Apple, though, continues to navigate those challenges enough to continue growing its business.

Non-iPhone business growing
The company reported increased sales for its Mac division, for which about half of customers were new to its computers.

Apple’s wearables business, meanwhile, grew to the size of a Fortune 100 company, the company noted, with more than two-thirds of people buying Apple Watches being new to the product.

Apple’s services, which won its first Oscar with the Apple TV Plus movie CODA, rose more than 17% to $19.8 billion. That makes services, which also include subscriptions like Apple Music streaming and Apple Arcade gaming, its second-largest division behind the iPhone. Apple said it counted 825 million accounts with paid subscriptions on its platform, an increase of 17% from the year prior.

“We’ve added a lot of new services, and we plan to add new services and new features that we believe that our customers will love,” Apple CFO Luca Maestri told analysts Thursday.

Overall, Apple said it recorded profits of $25 billion, up nearly 6% from last year. That translates to $1.52 per share in profit, off $97.28 billion in overall revenue, which itself was up 9% from the $89.58 billion reported last year. It also beat analyst estimates, which were $1.43 in profit per share on $93.9 billion in sales for the three months ended in March, according to surveys published by Yahoo Finance.

The tech giant is set to release quarterly earnings on Thursday, offering the latest sign of how COVID-19 is impacting tech.

Two years ago, Apple was one of the first companies to warn that the COVID-19 pandemic was seriously impacting its manufacturing. Now, the tech giant may offer the first signs that things are improving.

Apple will announce its earnings for its second fiscal quarter after market close Thursday. Typically, Apple executives use quarterly earnings announcements to talk about how popular its products are, while teasing the next big hit. But over the past year, they’ve also increasingly warned they’re struggling to build enough iPads and Macs to meet demand, missing out on billions of dollars in potential sales.

Though Apple isn’t providing forward-looking guidance during the pandemic, analysts on average expect the company to report $1.43 in profit per share on $93.9 billion in sales for the three months ended in March, according to surveys published by Yahoo Finance. That would amount to a 2% increase in profit per share from the same time a year ago and roughly 4% increase in sales.

Assuming Apple meets or beats those expectations, analysts say it’s likely the iPhone and its associated accessories made the biggest difference. And that’s even though demand for its Mac computers and iPad tablets has risen to record levels.

“We believe demand for the iPhone 13 held up better than expected through the end of the March quarter,” Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty wrote in a note to investors last week. “iPhone data points out of China were notably strong in the face of broader market weakness.”

Whatever Apple says will likely be seen as a bellwether for the tech industry, which has struggled with supply shortages, particularly as demand for computers, tablets and cameras and other technology jumped amid the pandemic.

The ongoing supply shortages have rippled throughout the global economy, slowing production of everything from cars to medical equipment. The constrained supplies have also pushed prices higher, contributing to inflation.

Apple and other tech companies have vowed to increase production in the US to help offset slowdowns in international shipping and manufacturing, but many of those projects are still years from completion. In the meantime, some supplies of chips have improved.

Analysts will likely be listening for any further signs from Apple on Thursday, particularly as the world struggles war started by Russia invading Ukraine. Lockdowns from another wave of rising COVID infections in China have shuttered ports In Shanghai and others cities, further contributing to shipping delays.

Bernstein analyst Toni Sacconaghi said in a note to investors Monday that consumers appear to be slowing their spending binge that was a hallmark of the pandemic. “With slowing growth, high inflation and geopolitical uncertainty tied to the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” he wrote, “consumer sentiment appears to be waning.”

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Plus and S22 Ultra support faster 45-watt fast charging, one of the key features that distinguishes them from the less expensive Galaxy S22. Cheaper Samsung devices like the Galaxy S22 and S21 FE only support 25-watt fast charging instead. The catch, however, is that neither of the required power adapters come in the box with your phone and must be purchased separately.

Samsung’s 45-watt fast charger sells for $50 through the company’s website and on Amazon. The 25-watt charger costs a more palatable $28 through Amazon and $20 at Best Buy. With that in mind, you might be wondering: Is Samsung’s more expensive charger really worth it?

To answer that question, I tested it on the Galaxy S22 Plus in a few different scenarios. I charged the device over 10- and 20-minute increments with each adapter starting from various battery levels, using the same cable and outlet each time. The phone was also connected to the same Wi-Fi network during both tests with no SIM card.

As you can tell by looking at the table above, the results are mixed. The 45-watt power adapter charged the phone slightly faster when starting from 0% over the course of 10- and 20-minute increments. But when plugging in at 25%, the 25-watt charger replenished a slightly higher percentage of the battery after 10 and 20 minutes. The results were essentially the same when charging from 50%.

I’m not alone in experiencing these results. Android Authority also found the charging speeds to be very similar when comparing Samsung’s 25-watt and 45-watt chargers. CNET contacted Samsung to ask why performance is similar between the two power adapters and will update this story accordingly.

Samsung is one of several phone makers looking to shorten the amount of time it takes to charge your phone. The OnePlus 10 Pro, for example, supports either 65-watt or 80-watt fast charging depending on the model available in your region.

Charging speeds can differ depending on a variety of factors, such as your phone’s settings and apps running in the background. But based on my tests, which were performed on the same device under the same circumstances, there isn’t much of a difference between Samsung’s pricier 45-watt charger and its less expensive 25-watt charger.

The iPhone 14 is rumored to be getting the new satellite functionality for emergency use too.

Apple may have some upgrades in store for the Apple Watch and the iMac. According to Mark Gurman’s Sunday newsletter for Bloomberg, an Apple Watch with satellite connectivity and an M3-based version of the company’s desktop could be in the works.

The M3-based iMacs could arrive at the end of next year at the earliest, while the Apple Watch could gain the new functionality for emergency use this year or in 2023, said Gurman, a tech reporter who has a reputable track record of uncovering details about upcoming Apple products.

Satellite connectivity, which was a rumored iPhone 13 feature that didn’t come to fruition, would allow you to send short texts to select contacts when out of cellular service range in emergency situations. The feature is also rumored to be coming to the iPhone 14 this fall.

As for the iMac, many details surrounding Apple’s M3 chip are unclear, but Apple has reportedly been actively testing its next generation of in-house chips, the M2 chips series, in several new Mac models to possibly launch later this year. These models include a MacBook Air, Mac Mini and an entry-level MacBook Pro, among others.

EU lawmakers reach a deal on the basics of major legislation meant to address the negative side of online platforms.

Lawmakers in the European Union reached an agreement Saturday on the basic points of major legislation designed to curb negative impacts from social media sites and other digital platforms.

The Digital Services Act would, among other things, compel services including Facebook, Google, Twitter and others to crack down on the spread of disinformation on their platforms and to reveal how their algorithms recommend content to users. The DSA would also prohibit certain kinds of ads on the platforms, such as targeted ads aimed at children or tailored to people’s ethnicity or sexual orientation.

“With the DSA we help create a safe and accountable online environment,” European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. “Platforms should be transparent about their content moderation decisions, prevent dangerous disinformation from going viral and avoid unsafe products being offered on market places. With today’s agreement we ensure that platforms are held accountable for the risks their services can pose to society and citizens.”

The DSA is one of two pillars of a major tech-regulation overhaul first unveiled in draft form by the EU in December 2020. The other pillar, the Digital Markets Act, received preliminary approval last month and is designed to address issues such as anticompetitive behavior. Both acts still await a final vote, but major changes aren’t expected. The EU has also passed the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which is designed to give people more control over the collection and sharing of their personal information.

Europe has long taken the lead in efforts to rein in big tech, and both the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act could influence efforts by governments worldwide to address problems around major technology platforms. The US so far hasn’t passed any comprehensive laws to tackle such issues.

Under the DSA, platforms that reach more than 10% of the EU’s population would be subject to independent audits of the steps they’re taking to prevent their systems from being abused, according to a rundown posted by the European Commission. Other steps the law would take include compelling online marketplaces to help identify sellers of illegal goods, and setting up ways for users to flag illegal goods, services or content and for platforms to work with “trusted flaggers.”

Companies that break the law could face fines of billions of dollars, as well as possible damage to the reputation of their brands.

Major tech companies said they support the EU’s goals but that specifics of the legislation are key.

“As the law is finalized and implemented, the details will matter,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. “We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical details right to ensure the law works for everyone.” In addition to its massive search engine, Google owns top video site YouTube.

Twitter said it looks forward to reviewing the DSA in detail and working with the EU. “We support smart, forward thinking regulation that balances the need to tackle online harm with protecting the Open Internet — while also understanding that a one-size-fits all approach fails to consider the diversity of our online environment,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement.

TikTok said it’s also awaiting details on the legislation. The company supports the EU’s “aim to harmonise the approach to online content issues” and welcomes the DSA’s “focus on transparency as a means to show accountability,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

Amazon pointed to comments made this past June by James Waterworth, its EU public policy director. Waterworth said Amazon supports the DSA “introducing regulated obligations to ensure that services act against illegal content.” But such obligations “need to be carefully balanced to provide certainty while allowing flexibility.”

Facebook didn’t respond to a request for comment.

EU lawmakers reach a deal on the basics of major legislation meant to address the negative side of online platforms.

Lawmakers in the European Union reached an agreement Saturday on the basic points of major legislation designed to curb negative impacts from social media sites and other digital platforms.

The Digital Services Act would, among other things, compel services including Facebook, Google, Twitter and others to crack down on the spread of disinformation on their platforms and to reveal how their algorithms recommend content to users. The DSA would also prohibit certain kinds of ads on the platforms, such as targeted ads aimed at children or tailored to people’s ethnicity or sexual orientation.

“With the DSA we help create a safe and accountable online environment,” European Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said in a statement. “Platforms should be transparent about their content moderation decisions, prevent dangerous disinformation from going viral and avoid unsafe products being offered on market places. With today’s agreement we ensure that platforms are held accountable for the risks their services can pose to society and citizens.”

The DSA is one of two pillars of a major tech-regulation overhaul first unveiled in draft form by the EU in December 2020. The other pillar, the Digital Markets Act, received preliminary approval last month and is designed to address issues such as anticompetitive behavior. Both acts still await a final vote, but major changes aren’t expected. The EU has also passed the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, which is designed to give people more control over the collection and sharing of their personal information.

Europe has long taken the lead in efforts to rein in big tech, and both the Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act could influence efforts by governments worldwide to address problems around major technology platforms. The United States so far hasn’t passed any comprehensive laws to tackle such issues.

Under the DSA, platforms that reach more than 10% of the EU’s population would be subject to independent audits of the steps they’re taking to prevent their systems from being abused, according to a rundown posted by the European Commission. Other steps the law would take include compelling online marketplaces to help identify sellers of illegal goods, and setting up ways for users to flag illegal goods, services or content and for platforms to work with “trusted flaggers.”

Companies that break the law could face fines of billions of dollars, as well as possible damage to the reputation of their brands.

Major tech companies said they support the EU’s goals but that specifics of the legislation are key.

“As the law is finalized and implemented, the details will matter,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. “We look forward to working with policymakers to get the remaining technical details right to ensure the law works for everyone.” In addition to its massive search engine, Google owns top video site YouTube.

Twitter said it looks forward to reviewing the DSA in detail and working with the EU. “We support smart, forward thinking regulation that balances the need to tackle online harm with protecting the Open Internet — while also understanding that a one-size-fits all approach fails to consider the diversity of our online environment,” a Twitter spokesperson said in a statement.

TikTok said it’s also awaiting details on the legislation. The company supports the EU’s “aim to harmonise the approach to online content issues” and welcomes the DSA’s “focus on transparency as a means to show accountability,” a TikTok spokesperson said in a statement.

Amazon pointed to comments made this past June by James Waterworth, its EU public policy director. Waterworth said Amazon supports the DSA “introducing regulated obligations to ensure that services act against illegal content.” But such obligations “need to be carefully balanced to provide certainty while allowing flexibility.”