Like a sovereign state, Meta-Facebook is announcing possible “sanctions” against another (non-)sovereign state, the European Union, because of its policy choices on personal data protection. After decades of guilty inertia, some national data protection authorities (the Austrian and German ones, in particular) have woken up from their torpor and discovered that Google’s ecosystem creates some problems for the rights of citizens of EU Member States. Better late than never? Comments on the news superficially focused on the tired narrative of ‘privacy protection’ and the risk that US authorities might access data imported by Google. However, these analyses fail to grasp some structural aspects of the affair. by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian on Strategikon – an Italian Tech blog. Continue reading “Meta’s threat is the result of European hypocrisy and cultural subordination to North American models”
The OVH data centre fire. Whose fault is it?
Public and private websites and services went offline because of the fire in OVH’s data centres in Strasbourg. No one points out customers’ responsibilities by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by PC Professionale no. 362 Continue reading “The OVH data centre fire. Whose fault is it?”
Amazon to compensate damages caused by a product sold in its marketplace.
Platforms are liable of what they do: so says a ruling of the California Court of Appeals by Andrea Monti – originally published in Italian by Wired.it
The Bolger vs Amazon.com Inc. ruling, issued by the California Court of Appeals on August 13, overturns the first-degree verdict and establishes Amazon.com is liable for damages caused by products made available through its website, also if the customer buys from a seller operating in the marketplace in “Fulfilled by Amazon” mode.
Continue reading “Amazon to compensate damages caused by a product sold in its marketplace.”
COVID-19: marketing and advertising in Italy
The number of advertising campaigns and e-mail communications that, more or less directly, use the COVID-19 as a narrative element is increasing. I don’t “name names” because I’m interested in trying to classify the strategies adopted by the various advertising agencies and by the “DIY-marketing-experts” rather than “giving votes” to this or that essay in business hypocrisy. Continue reading “COVID-19: marketing and advertising in Italy”
The Dangers of Lybra
The announcement of Libra, Facebook’s crypto-currency, has provoked violent reactions and harsh criticism. Some well-founded, others less so.
by Andrea Monti – originally published in Italian
Continue reading “The Dangers of Lybra”