all-in-one privacy solution":["Proton Unlimited tam kapsamlı bir gizlilik çözümüdür"],"Black Friday":["Muhteşem Cuma"],"No ads. Privacy by default.":["Reklamsız. Privacy by default."],"People before profits":["İnsanlar paradan önce gelir"],"Security through transparency":["Şeffaflık ile güvenlik"],"The best Proton Mail ${ BLACK_FRIDAY } deals":["En iyi Proton Mail ${ BLACK_FRIDAY } fırsatları"],"The world’s only community- supported email service":["Dünyanın tek topluluk tarafından desteklenen e-posta hizmeti"]},"specialoffer:limited":{"${ hours } hour":["${ hours } saat","${ hours } saat"],"${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } and ${ secondsLeft } left":["${ hoursLeft } - ${ minutesLeft } - ${ secondsLeft } kaldı"],"${ minutes } minute":["${ minutes } dakika","${ minutes } dakika"],"${ seconds } second":["${ seconds } saniye","${ seconds } saniye"],"Limited time offer":["Sınırlı süreli teklif"]},"specialoffer:listitem":{"Create multiple addresses":["Birden adres oluşturun"],"Hide-my-email aliases":["Hide-my-email takma adları (e-posta adresi)"],"Quickly unsubscribe from newsletters":["Bülten aboneliğinden hızlı ayrılma"],"Use your own domain name":["Kendi etki alanınızı kullanın"]},"specialoffer:logos":{"As featured in":["Belirtildiği gibi"]},"specialoffer:metadescription":{"Get an encrypted email that protects your privacy":["Gizliliğinizi koruyan bir şifreli e-posta edinin"]},"specialoffer:metatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday Sale - Up to 40% off":["Proton Mail Muhteşem Cuma İndirimleri - %40'a varan indirimler"]},"specialoffer:newmetadescription":{"Get up to 40% off Proton Mail subscriptions this Black Friday. Find great deals on our secure end-to-end encrypted email plans.":["Bu Muhteşem Cuma'da Proton Mail aboneliklerinde %40'a varan indirimlerden faydalanın. Uçtan uca şifrelenmiş e-posta tarifelerimiz için muhteşem fırsatlardan yararlanın."]},"specialoffer:newmetatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday sale | Up to 40% off secure email":["Proton Mail Muhteşem Cuma İndirimleri - Güvenli e-postada %40'a varan indirimler"]},"specialoffer:note":{"* Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["* İlk yıl için ${ TOTAL_SUM } üzerinden faturalandırılır"],"*Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["*ilk 2 yıl için ${ TOTAL_SUM } üzerinden faturalandırılır"],"30-day money-back guarantee":["30 günlük para iade garantisi"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["İlk 2 yıl için ${ TOTAL_SUM } üzerinden faturalandırılır"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["İlk yıl için ${ TOTAL_SUM } üzerinden faturalandırılır"],"You save ${ SAVE_SUM }":["${ SAVE_SUM } tasarruf ediyorsunuz"]},"specialoffer:off":{"${ PERCENT_OFF } off":["-${ PERCENT_OFF }"]},"specialoffer:testimonial":{"I love my ProtonMail":["ProtonMail'imi seviyorum"],"My favorite email service":["En sevdiğim e-posta hizmeti"],"Thanks Proton for keeping us all safe in the complicated internet universe.":["Hepimizi bu karışık internet evreninde güvende tuttuğun için teşekkürler Proton."],"You get what you pay for. In the case of big tech, if you pay nothing, you get used. I quit using Gmail and switched to @ProtonMail":["Ödediğinizin karşılığını alırsınız. Big Tech şirketleri söz konusu olduğunda, hiçbir şey ödememiyorsanız sizi kullanırlar. Gmail kullanmayı bıraktım ve @ProtonMail hizmetine geçtim"]},"specialoffer:time":{"Days":["Gün"],"Hours":["Saat"],"Min":["Dakika"]},"specialoffer:title":{"And much more":["Ve daha fazlası"],"Safe from trackers":["İzleyicilerdengüvende olun"],"Stay organized":["Düzenli kalın"],"Black Friday email deals":["Muhteşem Cuma e-posta fırsatları"],"Don’t just take our word for it":["Sırf bizden duymuş olmayın"],"Make your inbox yours":["Gelen kutunuzu kendinize ait kılın"],"Our story":["Öykümüz"],"Transfer your data from Google in one click":["Google'dan bilgilerinizi tek tıkla aktarın"]},"specialoffer:tooltip":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_VPN_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_VPN_COUNTRIES }+ countries, connect up to 10 devices, access worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Yasaklı içeriklere erişin ve gizlice gezinin. ${ TOTAL_VPN_COUNTRIES } üzeri ülkede ${ TOTAL_VPN_SERVERS } üzerinde sunucu, 10 aygıta kadar bağlantı, dünya çapındaki yayın hizmetlerine erişim, kötü amaçlı yazılım ve reklam engelleyici, ve daha fazlasını içerir."],"Easily share your calendar with your family, friends or colleagues, and view external calendars.":["Takviminizi bir bağlantı aracılığıyla ailenizle, arkadaşlarınızla veya iş arkadaşlarınızla paylaşın ve başka takvimleri görüntüleyin."],"Includes support for 1 custom email domain, 10 email addresses, 10 hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["1 özel e-posta etki alanı, 10 e-posta adresi, 10 hide-my-email takma adı, takvim paylaşma ve daha fazlası için destek içerir."],"Includes support for 3 custom email domains, 15 email addresses, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["3 özel e-posta etki alanı, 15 e-posta adresi, sınırsız hide-my-email takma adı, takvim paylaşma ve daha fazlası için destek içerir."],"Manage up to 25 calendars, mobile apps, secured with end-to-end encryption, 1-click calendar import from Google, and more.":["25'ye kadar takvim yönetin, mobil uygulamalar, uçtan uca şifreleme ile koruma, Google'dan tek tıkla aktarma ve daha fazlası."]},"Status banner":{"Learn more":["Ayrıntılı bilgi alın"],"Please note that at the moment we are experiencing issues with the ${ issues[0] } service.":["Şu anda ${ issues[0] } hizmeti ile ilgili sorun yaşamaktayız, bilginize."],"We are experiencing issues with one or more services at the moment.":["Şu anda bir veya daha fazla hizmet ile ilgili sorun yaşamaktayız."]},"Status Banner":{"At the moment we are experiencing issues with the Proton VPN service":["Şu anda Proton VPN hizmetiyle ilgili sorunlar yaşıyoruz"],"Learn more":["Ayrıntılı bilgi alın"]},"steps":{"Step":["Adım"]},"suggestions":{"Suggestions":["Öneriler"]},"Support":{"Sub category":["Alt kategori","Alt kategori"]},"Support article":{"${ readingTime } min":["${ readingTime } dakikalık","${ readingTime } dakikalık"],"Category":["Kategori","Kategori"],"Didn’t find what you were looking for?":["Aradığınızı bulamadınız mı?"],"General contact":["Genel iletişim"],"Get help":["Yardım alın"],"Legal contact":["Hukuki iletişim"],"Media contact":["Medya iletişimi"],"Partnerships contact":["Ortaklık iletişimi"],"Reading":["Okuma süresi"]},"Support Form Platform option":{"VPN for Android TV":["Android TV için VPN"],"VPN for Apple TV":["VPN Apple TV uygulaması"],"VPN for Chromebook":["Chromebook için VPN"]},"Support troubleshooting":{"App version":["Uygulama sürümü"],"Browser":["Tarayıcı"],"Check if this helps":["Yardımcı olabilecek bu cevaba bir göz atın"],"Choose a product":["Bir ürün seçin"],"Did this solve your issue?":["Bu, sorununuzu çözdü mü?"],"Faster assistance is just a few clicks away":["Daha hızlı yardım birkaç tık uzağınızda"],"How can we help?":["Nasıl yardımcı olabiliriz?"],"No, contact support":["Hayır, destekle iletişime geçin"],"Please fill out one field after another":["Lütfen alanları tek tek sırayla doldurun"],"Please make your selections":["Lütfen seçimlerinizi yapın"],"Proton account":["Proton hesabı"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Thank you for your feedback":["Geri bildiriminiz için teşekkürler"],"What can we help with?":["Ne konuda yardımcı olabiliriz?"],"Yes":["Evet"]},"support_modal_search_query":{"Search query":["Sorgu ara"]},"support_search_button":{"Search":["Ara"]},"support_search_i_am_looking_for":{"I'm looking for":["Şunu arıyorum: -"]},"SupportForm":{"For a faster resolution, please report the issue from the Bridge app: Help > Report a problem.":["Daha hızlı bir çözüm için, lütfen sorunu Bridge uygulamasının Yardım > Bir sorun bildir kısmından bildiririn."],"Information":["Bilgi"]},"SupportForm:option":{"Account Security":["Hesap Güvenliği"],"Contacts":["Kişiler"],"Custom email domain":["Özel e-posta etki alanı"],"Email delivery and Spam":["E-posta iletimi ve istenmeyen e-postalar"],"Encryption":["Şifreleme"],"Login and password":["Oturum ve şifre"],"Merge aliases and accounts":["Takma adları (e-posta adresi) ve hesapları birleştir"],"Migrate to Proton":["Proton üzerine aktarım"],"Notifications":["Bildirimler"],"Other":["Diğer"],"Plans and billing":["Tarifeler ve faturalandırma"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Sign up":["Hesap açma"],"Storage":["Depolama"],"Users, addresses, and identities":["Kullanıcılar, adresler ve kimlikler"]},"SupportForm:optionIntro":{"Select a topic":["Bir konu seç"]},"Testimonial":{"Awards":["Ödüller"],"Customers":["Müşteriler"],"Featured":["Öne Çıkanlar"],"Go to testimonial source":["Müşteri görüşünün kaynağına git"],"Open source of award":["Ödülün kaynağını aç"],"Open source of 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sayfayı"]},"tooltip_vpn":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. 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In the first seven months of 2023, Big Tech companies have been fined nearly $2.34 billion for privacy violations and abusing their monopoly power. Since the European Union introduced the GDPR in 2018, these companies have been fined upwards of $7 billion.
These are massive amounts, but they don’t seem to have had any appreciable effect on Big Tech’s behavior. That’s because these fines, massive as they are, represent little more than an inconvenience to these companies.
It seems that Google, Facebook, and others view these fines as the price of doing business and will continue to pay these astronomical amounts if it means they can continue abusing your data and crushing alternative business models.
To truly defend our privacy and make the internet a level playing field, we need regulations with teeth, which means we need even bigger fines.
Big Tech’s cash on hand dwarfs their fines
It might be hard to believe a company wouldn’t care about paying over a billion dollars, but it’s easy to understand once you see how much cash on hand these companies have.
Cash on hand refers to a company’s cash after it has paid all its costs. It’s essentially a measure of how much free money a company has (or can easily obtain by selling liquid assets) at any given time.
There are a couple of things to note here. First, all of the highest fines have originated from the EU because they have aggressive anti-monopoly policies, and the GDPR provides a framework for fines for companies that violate their users’ privacy. Second, none of these fines caused any discomfort for these companies.
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, received the largest fine of any Big Tech company, butit could pay that fine a staggering 28 times before it ran out of cash. Microsoft could pay its biggest fine an incredible 1,738 times before it depleted its cash.
Big Tech can pay off most fines with a day’s worth of profit
Cash on hand can be deceiving — it can be inflated if a company recently sold off an asset or dip if a company invests heavily in research and development or infrastructure. This isn’t the case for most Big Tech companies. They’ve steadily carried large cash on hand reserves for years.
Still, revenue is a more accurate depiction of a company’s size and profitability. We can also look at how long it would take each of these companies to make enough revenue to pay off one of these fines.
These numbers are almost too big to comprehend, so it might be easier to benchmark them with how long it takes a company to generate enough revenue to pay off a $1 billion fine.
Revenue earned per hour (based on 2022 figures)
How long it takes to earn $1 billion (based on 2022 figures)
Apple
$45.01 million
22 hours
Alphabet (parent company of Google)
$32.29 million
1 day and 7 hours
Meta (Facebook)
$13.31 million
3 days and 3 hours
Amazon
$58.67 million
17 hours
Microsoft
$22.63 million
1 day and 20 hours
As this table demonstrates, Big Tech companies won’t notice any fine that’s less than $1 billion — in fact, Apple probably made enough revenue to cover its recent $8 million fine(yeni pencere) in less time than it took to finish reading the verdict.
Cumulatively, Big Tech companies make enough revenue to pay all the fines they’ve received throughout 2023 ($2.34 billion) in less than a week (six days and five hours).
Big fines require political will
If regulatory fines are meant to signal to companies that they need to change their behavior, then they must be big enough to get those companies’ attention. We know people want to tell these companies to stop collecting their data without their knowledge or permission and stop using their market dominance to box out competitors. Governments are attempting to deliver that message, but it isn’t getting through because the fines are tolerable.
This isn’t a surprise — the GDPR allows for fines up to 4% of annual global turnover (otherwise known as annual revenue). The maximum fines Big Tech could face under the GDPR are as follows:
Company
Maximum fine allowed under the GDPR (based on 2022 revenue)
Apple
$15.77 billion
Alphabet (parent company of Google)
$11.31 billion
Meta (Facebook)
$4.66 billion
Amazon
$20.56 billion
Microsoft
$7.93 billion
These figures might get Big Tech’s attention, but it comes down to the data protection agencies’ (DPAs) willingness to issue maximum fines. That’s never been on the table for a number of reasons, including the complexity of these cases, the armies of lawyers Big Tech employs to obfuscate and delay proceedings, and certain countries’ desire to maintain their “business friendly” reputation.
National DPAs have conflicting interests. They’re charged with protecting their citizens’ privacy rights, but if they adopt business-friendly, laissez-faire interpretations of the GDPR, their home country can attract Big Tech headquarters and the billions of dollars of investments and jobs that come with them.
For example, many Big Tech companies, including Meta and Apple, have chosen Ireland for their EU headquarters because of its favorable tax scheme, meaning Ireland’s DPA has an outsize impact when regulating and punishing Big Tech companies. While the Irish DPA did issue one of the largest GDPR fines ever to Meta ($1.3 billion), it only did so after 10 years of litigation by privacy advocates, such as NOYB(yeni pencere).
Afterward, NOYB’s founder, Max Schrems, had this comment(yeni pencere), “The Irish regulator has done everything to avoid this decision, but was consistently overturned by the European Courts and institutions. It is kind of absurd that the record fine will go to Ireland — the EU Member State that did everything to ensure that this fine is not issued”.
Who is in charge – Big Tech or elected governments?
The EU has noticed that the DPAs of Ireland and Luxembourg — coincidentally countries that host the headquarters of many large and rich tech companies — have become bottlenecks, slowing down and watering down GDPR investigations. To ensure the DPAs take their mandate to protect people’s privacy seriously, the European Commission, the EU’s executive branch, is taking action.
Starting in January 2023, the Commission increased its scrutiny(yeni pencere) of DPAs, now requiring updates every two months on every DPA’s data-protection investigations. If the DPAs don’t comply with the Commission’s directives, they could be taken to the European Court of Justice.
This fight is important because Big Tech currently decides how much of your data is collected and how it is used. If we want an internet that respects people’s privacy, the fastest way to get there is to convince Big Tech that abusing people’s data is not only wrong, it’s unprofitable. Big Tech’s profits dwarf the penalties they’re paying. Why would a company jeopardize billions in revenue to avoid paying a fine it can cover with what it earns in a day?
It seems Big Tech’s current approach to these fines is to treat them as permits they have to pay to continue abusing people’s data, their armies of lawyers seemingly much more concerned about avoiding and delaying enforcement of the GDPR rather than complying with it. The EU and DPAs seem to recognize they must step up their approach to win compliance. We hope this inspires other countries, namely the US, to start taking this seriously as well.
But it’s not all on regulators’ shoulders. We, the people, can act as well. While big fines might finally get Big Tech’s attention, there’s one thing these companies are always paying attention to — user numbers. The only thing that could drive Big Tech to reconsider its business model is if it sees tens or hundreds millions of people leaving for privacy-focused alternatives.
Until then, these companies will try to monetize as much data as they can, happy to pay the minor fines they receive. Also, in the time it took you to read this article, Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft made about $28.65 million.