On July 18, 2018, the European Commission imposed a record €4.34 billion ($5 billion) fine on Google for breaching EU antitrust rules through three separate illegal practices involving its Android mobile operating system. The penalty was the largest antitrust fine ever imposed globally, exceeding …
GoogleEuropean CommissionMargrethe VestagerSundar PichaiAndroid phone manufacturers+2 moregoogleandroidantitrusteumobile-monopoly+3 more
Bayer AG completed its $63 billion acquisition of Monsanto after receiving antitrust approval from U.S. and European regulators, consolidating the agricultural seeds and chemicals industry from the “Big Six” into a “Big Four” oligopoly controlling over 60% of global seed …
Bayer AGMonsantoDepartment of JusticeAntitrust DivisionEuropean Commission+1 moreantitrustconsolidationmergeragricultureoligopoly+4 more
Facebook intensively lobbies the Irish government and Data Protection Commission in advance of GDPR implementation, successfully negotiating weaker enforcement and regulatory interpretation that allows continued surveillance practices. The lobbying campaign creates Ireland as a data protection …
FacebookIrish Data Protection CommissionEnda Kenny (Irish Taoiseach)Max SchremsEuropean Commissionfacebookgdprlobbyingregulatory-captureprivacy+3 more
On June 27, 2017, the European Commission imposed a record-breaking €2.42 billion ($2.7 billion) fine on Google for abusing its dominance in general internet search by systematically favoring its own comparison shopping service over those of competitors. The decision concluded a 7-year investigation …
GoogleEuropean CommissionMargrethe VestagerSundar PichaiComparison shopping competitorsgoogleantitrusteugoogle-shoppingsearch-manipulation+3 more
The European Stability Mechanism (ESM) board of governors approves a Memorandum of Understanding for Greece’s third bailout program worth up to €86 billion, specifying harsh reform policies Greece must fulfill despite Greek voters rejecting similar conditions by 61% to 39% in a referendum just …
Alexis TsiprasEuropean Stability MechanismInternational Monetary FundEuropean Central BankEuropean Commission+1 moreshock-doctrineimfausteritygreecetroika+3 more
Greek citizens vote decisively 61% to 39% to reject a referendum on accepting more Troika bailout conditions in exchange for increased austerity measures, in the first referendum held in Greece since 1974 and the only one in modern Greek history not concerning the form of government. The …
Alexis TsiprasYanis VaroufakisSyrizaEuropean CommissionInternational Monetary Fund+1 moreshock-doctrineimfausteritygreecetroika+3 more
The European Commission, European Central Bank (ECB), and International Monetary Fund form a tripartite committee known as the ‘Troika’ and agree on a three-year €110 billion financial aid package for Greece in exchange for severe austerity measures outlined in a Memorandum of …
European CommissionEuropean Central BankInternational Monetary FundGeorge PapandreouAngela Merkelshock-doctrineimfausteritygreecetroika+3 more
Oracle Corporation completed its acquisition of Sun Microsystems on January 27, 2010, for approximately $7.4 billion ($9.50 per share in cash), gaining control of critical software infrastructure including the Java programming language, MySQL open-source database, and Sun’s hardware systems …