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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

I'm confident the CMA can get this right, and set a model for what proportionate and objective intervention in search and advertising markets looks like. And I look forward to working alongside other stakeholders in helping the CMA do so.

Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

At @progresschamber.org we submitted ideas on how the CMA can best achieve this in our consultation response on the SMS designation a few months ago, you can read more about that here progresschamber.org/resources/s...

Submission to UK Competition & Markets Authority: Consultation on SMS Investigation into Google's General Search Services - Chamber of Progress

progresschamber.org

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

You can even see this in the CMA's press release. It's not chest-beating about "sovereignty", villainising Google, or waving around threats for the future (contra what I've seen in the EU lately).

It's a very sober assessment of wanting to make markets work better for consumers.

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

The UK has a pro-growth agenda and authorities have been working hard to make sure regulations are enforced proportionately and with enough guidance for business to avoid the uncertainty that we see elsewhere.

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

But me? I'm not so worried. I think the CMA has set itself in a new direction that is focused on growth, and the DMCCA has embedded in the legislation safeguards to protect consumers from regulatory overreach.

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

One of Google's top UK policy people has also expressed how this could mean AI-based innovations will end up on British shores later than elsewhere

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

Google's top competition lawyer in Europe has lamented this move, while committing to supporting the CMA achieve the best outcomes for the wider interest

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

We've documented this extensively ourselves @progresschamber.org because of concerns that in Europe, citizens are getting the short end of the regulatory stick while rival business interests are being privileged. thedigitalcurtain.eu/#report

Europe's Digital Curtain - Chamber of Progress

Touted as a catalyst for European innovation and competition, the Digital Markets Act has done the opposite: isolating European consumers from the full potential of the digital age.

thedigitalcurtain.eu

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

But in a blogpost, Google has gone to some pains to point how how much value Google's services generate for Britons and British businesses, how it's a delicate ecosystem, and how other jurisdictions enforcement actions have had unintended consequences blog.google/around-the-...

The CMA’s designation of Google Search

Google calls for a pro-innovation UK regulatory framework, as the CMA designates Google with Strategic Market Status.

blog.google

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

I think there's two elements to point out here, first of all, Google has come out quite strongly against what was always expected once the law passed, Google was one of the main targets of the law, and its search and advertising services in particular.

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 2d

Competition enforcement news in the UK today, as the CMA designates Google under the DMCCA (ex-ante rules), for "strategic market status" (i.e. gatekeeper) in search and search advertising.

This was expected, and a long time coming, so what's new?
www.gov.uk/government/...

CMA confirms Google has strategic market status in search services

Following extensive consultation, the CMA confirms proposed decision.

www.gov.uk

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

Regardless of what happens next, this statement from German Federal Justice Minister Dr. Stefanie Hubig is powerful and welcome: “Unjustified chat monitoring must be taboo in a constitutional state. Private communication must never be under general suspicion”

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

Thankfully, the mass-movement against it succeeded once again, but this is just another temporary pause. We need to stay vigilant!

First let's see what happens on Oct 14 and afterwards. www.euractiv.com/news/german...

Germany's Justice Minister slams controversial 'chat control' law | Euractiv

Dr. Stefanie Hubig's statement opposing the message-scanning proposal on Wednesday suggests the Danes' compromise is unlikely to pass a vote in Council

www.euractiv.com

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

ChatControl will have seriously negative repercussions, and cause some services to pull the plug on Europe. Signal has said they would withdraw, because this state-mandated malware would expose users' private conversations and weaken encryption www.techradar.com/vpn/vpn-pri...

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

The Commission has been backing it, not because people want it, but because it would give more power to the surveillance state. The Commission has gone so far as to use "unlawful micro-targeting" to try and drum up support noyb.eu/en/noyb-fil...

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

However, this surely isn't the end. This zombie proposal keeps coming back, I wrote about it in more detail last year typefully.com/KayJebelli/...

European Council's "Chat Control" Regulation Would Infringe Our Fundamental Rights | Kay Jebelli 🇺🇦

Tomorrow, the European Council will decide on a regulation that could drastically impact privacy and security across the EU. Dubbed "Chat Control" this critical regulation will shape our digital rights and future freedom from creeping state mass-surveillance.

typefully.com

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

So it seems there isn't enough support now for the Council vote on October the 14th, in large part due to mass protest and a grassroots write-in campaign. bsky.app/profile/ech...

Patrick Breyer (@echo-pbreyer.digitalcourage.social.ap.brid.gy)

🇩🇪IHR SEID DER WAHNSINN: ❤️ Euer Protest hat die #Chatkontrolle gestoppt! Ich höre: Deutschland knickt nicht ein, es gibt also keine Mehrheit im EU-Rat. Das digitale Briefgeheimnis ist vorerst gerettet. Lasst uns diesen Erfolg GEMEINSAM feiern! 🎉 ℹ️ […] [Original post on digitalcourage.social]

bsky.app

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 3d

Welcome news this week as Germany decides not to support "Chat Control" (mandating scanning devices and messages for possible CSA materials, creating a continent wide surveillance state, and eliminating our digital freedoms). There was a vote coming up next week. @claudiemoreau.bsky.social

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Reposted by Kay Jebelli

Meredith Whittaker @meredithmeredith.bsky.social · 7d

📣 Germany's close to reversing its opposition to mass surveillance & private message scanning, & backing the Chat Control bill. This could end private comms-& Signal-in the EU.

Time's short and they're counting on obscurity: please let German politicians know how horrifying their reversal would be.

Signal @signal.org · 9d

We are alarmed by reports that Germany is on the verge of a catastrophic about-face, reversing its longstanding and principled opposition to the EU’s Chat Control proposal which, if passed, could spell the end of the right to privacy in Europe. signal.org/blog/pdfs/ge...

signal.org

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Reposted by Kay Jebelli

Jay 🦋 @jay.bsky.team · 11d

“It actually doesn’t take much to be considered a difficult woman. That’s why there are so many of us.”
― Jane Goodall

💙 RIP to a real one. My childhood hero

Jane Goodall with monarch butterfly scarf

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 13d

And now matter how good it is for "contestability" and "fairness" to force gatekeepers to build public infrastructure for their European tech rivals, I don't think it's something that the US Government will look kindly upon.

Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 13d

Though, I think once Puzder looks into it, he'll see the same problem that I do, that the EU is trying to instrumentalise big tech to make them build public infrastructure for their rivals, and offer it for free.

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 13d

But the new US Ambassador Puzder seems to want to mediate the conflict. He told the FT that he wants to understand where the main differences of interpretation lie, to ensure "a good relationship going forward" www.ft.com/content/b6d...

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 13d

Several European competition enforcers have come to the EC's defense

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Kay Jebelli @kayjebelli.bsky.social · 13d

That said, such public criticism is very unusual in Brussels, and it can be very difficult to hear if you're used to everyone always welcoming every proposal (subject to a few small suggested tweaks).

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