{"id":629492,"date":"2024-08-01T21:44:06","date_gmt":"2024-08-01T18:44:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/google-accused-of-predatory-conduct-over-gmail-api-withdrawal\/"},"modified":"2024-08-01T21:44:06","modified_gmt":"2024-08-01T18:44:06","slug":"google-accused-of-predatory-conduct-over-gmail-api-withdrawal","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/google-accused-of-predatory-conduct-over-gmail-api-withdrawal\/","title":{"rendered":"#Google accused of \u2018predatory conduct\u2019 over Gmail API withdrawal"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a28ff83bc185\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a28ff83bc185\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/google-accused-of-predatory-conduct-over-gmail-api-withdrawal\/#A_regulatory_loophole\" >A regulatory loophole?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/google-accused-of-predatory-conduct-over-gmail-api-withdrawal\/#The_Google_rulebook\" >The Google rulebook<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div id=\"article-main-content\">\n                            <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Google has been accused of exploiting a regulatory gap to terminate a startup\u2019s\u00a0access to the Gmail API.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>London-based <a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/gener8ads.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gener8<\/span><\/a> said the API is \u201ccritical\u201d to its business.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u00a0The company offers people control of the data that the likes of Gmail harvest. Users can then monetise their information.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Thousands of companies already harvest and sell this data. It\u2019s how Google became <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/companiesmarketcap.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">fourth most valuable<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> company in the world. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gener8 promises to take the power back. <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The startup has built an <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a> that shows users the data that companies have about them.<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"inarticle-wrapper latest channel-cta hs-embed-tnw\">\n<div id=\"hs-embed-tnw\" class=\"channel-cta-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"channel-cta-img\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/s3.amazonaws.com\/events.tnw\/hardfork-2018\/uploads\/visuals\/tnw-newsletter.png\"\/><\/p>\n<div class=\"channel-cta-input\">\n<p class=\"channel-cta-title\">The &lt;3 of EU tech<\/p>\n<p class=\"channel-cta-tagline\">The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol&#8217; founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It&#8217;s free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>They are then offered two options. One prevents tracking from third-party companies. The ads that they support are then removed from browsers.<\/p>\n<p>The other option permits Gener8 to anonymise, aggregate, and monetise user data. In return, the startup provides points. The points are then exchanged for products, discounts, and donations.<\/p>\n<p>The service has proven popular. Since launching in 2018, Gener8 has attracted <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">over 1 million users, \u00a39mn in funding, and <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.standard.co.uk\/business\/tinie-tempah-harry-redknapp-invest-gener8-dragons-den-b944334.html\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">gushing praise<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on the iconic Dragons\u2019 Den.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After reaching a valuation of \u00a339mn last month, the startup declared it was on track to <\/span><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/businesscloud.co.uk\/news\/celebrity-backed-gener8-to-become-unicorn-this-decade\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">become a unicorn<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> this decade. Google\u2019s intervention could stall the plan.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"A_regulatory_loophole\"><\/span>A regulatory loophole?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Gmail API gives Gener8 access to electronic receipts. The company can then extract and sell <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">anonymised transaction data.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Gener8 has been open about the service. When it requested access to the Gmail API, the startup explained the plan to commercialise the data.<\/p>\n<p>Google approved the application in January 2023. But 18 months later, the corporation had a change of heart.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In July, Google sent Gener8\u00a0a message. The company was withdrawing access to the Gmail API due to evidence that Gener8 was selling Gmail data.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Sam Jones, the founder and CEO\u00a0of Gener8, described the move as \u201cpredatory conduct\u201d and \u201ca clear attempt to suppress a disruptive challenger.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThey\u2019ve put their hands around our throat in a really anti-competitive manner,\u201d Jones told TNW.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Gener8 was accused of violating Google policy. But the startup suspects that the true explanation is a gap in regulation.<\/p>\n<p><span>For services such as Search and the Play Store that fall under the remit of the EU\u2019s Digital Markets Act, Google has introduced a Data Portability API. This allows users to transfer their data to <span class=\"il\">Gener8<\/span>. <\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>Gmail, however, was overlooked for DMA designation. Consequently, the service doesn\u2019t fall under the same scrutiny as Search or the Play Store.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">But that exposes a curious contradiction in Google\u2019s actions.<\/p>\n<h2 dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_Google_rulebook\"><\/span>The Google rulebook<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Gmail API and\u00a0Data Portability API are governed by the same user data policy. But the rules appear to have been applied inconsistently.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span class=\"il\">Gener8<\/span><span>\u00a0has also requested access to the Data Portability API. In that application, Google has not raised any concerns about selling data.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Jones has an explanation. <span>\u201cGoogle\u2019s interpretation of its own policy seems to vary depending on whether a regulator is watching,\u201d he said.<\/span><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Jones has promised to fight Google\u2019s decision. He accuses the company of attacking consumer choice and fair competition. Other data businesses, he warns, could also suffer the consequences.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Gener8 hopes Gmail will soon face the stricter DMA obligations. The startup also suspects that withdrawing access to the Gmail IP would breach GDPR rights to data portability.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Developments in Gener8\u2019s home country provide another csuse for optimism. The UK is currently developing a DMA equivalent. Gener8 wants the rules to enforce tighter obligations on data portability<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><span>\u201cGoogle often claims to be a champion of data portability and user empowerment,\u201d Jones said. \u201cBut we can really judge a company\u2019s values by how it behaves when the regulator isn\u2019t standing over its shoulder.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/google-predatory-conduct-withdraws-gener8-gmail-api\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Google has been accused of exploiting a regulatory gap to terminate a startup\u2019s\u00a0access to the Gmail API. London-based Gener8 said the API is \u201ccritical\u201d to its business.\u00a0The company offers people control of the data that the likes of Gmail harvest. Users can then monetise their information. Thousands of companies already harvest and sell this data&#8230;.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":629493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/img-cdn.tnwcdn.com\/image\/tnw-blurple?filter_last=1&fit=1280%2C640&url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn0.tnwcdn.com%2Fwp-content%2Fblogs.dir%2F1%2Ffiles%2F2023%2F11%2F49424155377_d34f63ee90_k.jpg&signature=1762dd211dc2948b4478682471b230f1","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-629492","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629492","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=629492"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/629492\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/629493"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=629492"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=629492"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=629492"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}