all-in-one privacy solution":["Proton Unlimited — комплексное решение для защиты данных"],"Black Friday":["Черная пятница"],"No ads. Privacy by default.":["Без рекламы. Гарантия конфиденциальности"],"People before profits":["Люди важнее прибыли"],"Security through transparency":["Безопасность, основанная на прозрачности"],"The best Proton Mail ${ BLACK_FRIDAY } deals":["${ BLACK_FRIDAY }: лучшие предложения Proton Mail"],"The world’s only community- supported email service":["Единственный в мире сервис электронной почты с поддержкой сообщества"]},"specialoffer:limited":{"${ hours } hour":["${ hours } час","${ hours } часа","${ hours } часов","${ hours } часа"],"${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } and ${ secondsLeft } left":["Осталось ${ hoursLeft }, ${ minutesLeft } и ${ secondsLeft }"],"${ minutes } minute":["${ minutes } минута","${ minutes } минуты","${ minutes } минут","${ minutes } минуты"],"${ seconds } second":["${ seconds } секунда","${ seconds } секунды","${ seconds } секунд","${ seconds } секунды"],"Limited time offer":["Ограниченное по времени предложение"]},"specialoffer:listitem":{"Create multiple addresses":["Создавайте несколько адресов"],"Hide-my-email aliases":["Создавайте алиасы hide-my-email"],"Quickly unsubscribe from newsletters":["С легкостью отменяйте подписку на рассылки"],"Use your own domain name":["Используйте собственное доменное имя"]},"specialoffer:logos":{"As featured in":["О нас в СМИ"]},"specialoffer:metadescription":{"Get an encrypted email that protects your privacy":["Электронная почта, защищающая вашу конфиденциальность"]},"specialoffer:metatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday Sale - Up to 40% off":["Черная пятница в Proton Mail: скидки до 40 %"]},"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.":["Получите Proton Mail со скидкой до 40 %. Не пропустите выгодные предложения на планы безопасной электронной почты, зашифрованной сквозным шифрованием, в честь «черной пятницы»."]},"specialoffer:newmetatitle":{"Proton Mail Black Friday sale | Up to 40% off secure email":["«Черная пятница» в Proton Mail | Скидки до 40 %"]},"specialoffer:note":{"* Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["* ${ TOTAL_SUM } за первый год."],"*Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["* ${ TOTAL_SUM } за первые два года."],"30-day money-back guarantee":["Гарантия возврата средств в течение 30 дней"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first 2 years":["${ TOTAL_SUM } за первые 2 года"],"Billed at ${ TOTAL_SUM } for the first year":["${ TOTAL_SUM } за первый год"],"You save ${ SAVE_SUM }":["Вы экономите ${ SAVE_SUM }."]},"specialoffer:off":{"${ DISCOUNT } off":["–${ DISCOUNT }"],"${ PERCENT_OFF } off":["–${ PERCENT_OFF }"]},"specialoffer:testimonial":{"I love my ProtonMail":["Обожаю ProtonMail!"],"My favorite email service":["Мой любимый сервис электронной почты"],"Thanks Proton for keeping us all safe in the complicated internet universe.":["Спасибо Proton за защиту в запутанном интернет-пространстве."],"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":["Полностью оправданное вложение денег. Бигтех-компании используют тебя, если ты им не платишь. Поэтому я перешла с Gmail на @ProtonMail."]},"specialoffer:time":{"Days":["дн."],"Hours":["ч."],"Min":["мин."]},"specialoffer:title":{"And much more":["И это еще не всё"],"Make your inbox yours":["Настройка на свой вкус"],"Safe from trackers":["Защита от трекеров"],"Stay organized":["Всё по полочкам"],"Black Friday email deals":["Безопасная почта для покупок в «черную пятницу»"],"Don’t just take our word for it":["Отзывы наших клиентов"],"Our story":["Наша история"],"Transfer your data from Google in one click":["Перенесите данные из Gmail в одно нажатие"]},"specialoffer:tooltip":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, connect up to 10 devices, access worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Сохраняйте конфиденциальность в Интернете и получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту. Включает ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах с возможностью подключения на 10 устройствах, доступ к стриминговым платформам со всего мира, блокировщик рекламы, функцию защиты от вредоносных программ и другие преимущества."],"Easily share your calendar with your family, friends or colleagues, and view external calendars.":["Предоставляйте доступ к календарю родственникам, друзьям и коллегам, а также просматривайте календари других сервисов"],"Includes support for 1 custom email domain, 10 email addresses, 10 hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Включает поддержку 1 пользовательского домена, 10 адресов электронной почты, 10 алиасов hide-my-email, совместный доступ к календарю и другие преимущества."],"Includes support for 3 custom email domains, 15 email addresses, unlimited hide-my-email aliases, calendar sharing, and more.":["Включает поддержку трех пользовательских доменов, 15 адресов электронной почты, неограниченного числа алиасов hide-my-email, совместный доступ к календарю и другие преимущества."],"Manage up to 25 calendars, mobile apps, secured with end-to-end encryption, 1-click calendar import from Google, and more.":["До 25 календарей, мобильные приложения, сквозное шифрование, удобный перенос данных из Google Календаря и другие преимущества"]},"Status Banner":{"At the moment we are experiencing issues with the Proton VPN service":["При использовании сервиса Proton VPN могут возникать проблемы"],"Learn more":["Подробнее"]},"Status banner":{"Learn more":["Подробнее"],"Please note that at the moment we are experiencing issues with the ${ issues[0] } service.":["Сейчас при использовании сервиса ${ issues[0] } могут возникать проблемы."],"We are experiencing issues with one or more services at the moment.":["При использовании одного или нескольких сервисов могут возникать проблемы."]},"suggestions":{"Suggestions":["Предложения"]},"Support":{"Sub category":["Подкатегория","Подкатегории","Подкатегорий","Подкатегорий"]},"Support article":{"${ readingTime } min":["${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин.","${ readingTime } мин."],"Category":["Категория","Категории","Категорий","Категорий"],"Didn’t find what you were looking for?":["Не нашли желаемый контент?"],"General contact":["Общие контакты"],"Get help":["Получить помощь"],"Legal contact":["Контакты юридического отдела"],"Media contact":["Контакты для прессы"],"Partnerships contact":["Контакты по вопросам партнерства"],"Reading":["Чтение"]},"Support categories":{"Browse Proton product support":["Смотреть ресурсы по поддержке продуктов Proton"]},"Support category":{"There is no article in this category yet.":["В этой категории еще нет статей."]},"Support troubleshooting":{"--- Select ---":["— Выбрать —"],"App version":["Версия приложения"],"Browser":["Браузер"],"Check if this helps":["Возможно, нужный ответ найдется здесь"],"Choose a category for your question":["Выберите категорию запроса"],"Choose a product":["Выберите продукт"],"Did this solve your issue ?":["Удалось ли нам решить вашу проблему?"],"Faster assistance is just a few clicks away — please make your selections":["Выберите подходящие варианты. Всего пара нажатий — и вы на шаг ближе к решению проблемы."],"No, contact support":["Нет, связаться со службой поддержки"],"Proton account":["Аккаунт Proton"],"Proton Bridge":["Proton Bridge"],"Proton Calendar":["Proton Calendar"],"Proton Drive":["Proton Drive"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Proton Mail":["Proton Mail"],"Proton Pass":["Proton Pass"],"Proton VPN":["Proton VPN"],"Thank you for your feedback":["Спасибо за отзыв!"],"Troubleshooting":["Устранение неполадок"],"What can we help with ?":["Чем мы можем вам помочь?"],"Yes":["Да"]},"support_modal_search_query":{"Search query":["Поисковый запрос"]},"support_search_button":{"Search":["Найти"]},"support_search_i_am_looking_for":{"I'm looking for":["Я ищу"]},"SupportForm":{"For a faster resolution, please report the issue from the Bridge app: Help > Report a problem.":["Чтобы быстро устранить проблему в приложении Bridge, выберите «Справка» > «Сообщить о проблеме»."],"Information":["Информация"]},"SupportForm:option":{"Account Security":["Безопасность аккаунта"],"Contacts":["Контакты"],"Custom email domain":["Пользовательский домен адреса электронной почты"],"Email delivery and Spam":["Доставка электронных писем и спам"],"Encryption":["Шифрование"],"Login and password":["Имя пользователя и пароль"],"Merge aliases and accounts":["Объединение псевдонимов и аккаунтов"],"Migrate to Proton":["Переход на Proton"],"Notifications":["Уведомления"],"Other":["Другое"],"Plans and billing":["Тарифы и оплата"],"Proton for Business":["Proton for Business"],"Sign up":["Регистрация"],"Storage":["Хранилище"],"Users, addresses, and identities":["Пользователи, адреса и личные данные"]},"SupportForm:optionIntro":{"Select a topic":["Выберите тему"]},"swiss_baseed_feature":{"Swiss based":["В Швейцарии"]},"Testimonial":{"Awards":["Награды"],"Customers":["Клиенты"],"Featured":["Что о нас говорят"],"Go to testimonial source":["Перейти к источнику отзыва"],"Reviews":["Отзывы"],"Videos":["видео."]},"Text":{"Find the plan that's right for you":["Найдите подходящий план"],"If you need help, check out our ${ supportLink }.":["Если вам нужна помощь, перейдите в ${ supportLink }."],"The page you’re looking for might have been removed, or it could be an\nold link.":["Возможно, страница удалена\nили у вас устаревшая ссылка."]},"Title":{"On this page":["На этой странице"],"Related articles":["Статьи по теме"],"Share ${ thisPage }":["Поделиться ${ thisPage }"],"Thank you!":["Спасибо!"],"this page":["этой страницей"]},"Tooltip":{"More information":["Подробнее"]},"tooltip_calendar":{"Create up to 20 custom & shareable encrypted calendars. On top of that, add up to 5 calendars from friends, family, colleagues, and organizations.":["Есть возможность создать до 20 зашифрованных пользовательских календарей и делиться ими с другими людьми, а также добавить до 5 календарей друзей, родственников, коллег и организаций."]},"tooltip_vpn":{"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту, просматривайте страницы анонимно и пользуйтесь стриминговыми сервисами со всего мира. Мы предлагаем ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах, высочайшую скорость VPN, ${ TOTAL_VPN_CONNECTIONS } VPN-подключений, защиту от вредоносных программ, блокировщик рекламы и многое другое."],"Access blocked content and browse privately. Includes ${ TOTAL_SERVERS }+ servers in ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES }+ countries, highest VPN speed, 10 VPN connections, worldwide streaming services, malware and ad-blocker, and more.":["Получайте доступ к заблокированному контенту, просматривайте страницы анонимно и пользуйтесь стриминговыми сервисами со всего мира. Мы предлагаем ${ TOTAL_SERVERS } серверов более чем в ${ TOTAL_COUNTRIES } странах, высочайшую скорость VPN, 10 VPN-подключений, защиту от вредоносных программ, блокировщик рекламы и многое другое."]},"version_history_label":{"Version history":["История версий"]},"version_history_tooltip":{"Store up to ${ versionHistoryNumber } versions of each file for up to ${ years } years":["Храните версии каждого файла (до ${ versionHistoryNumber }) не более нескольких лет (${ years })."]},"vpn_features_link":{"View VPN plans":["Посмотреть тарифы VPN"]},"vpn_features_useCase":{"Access blocked content and browse privately":["Доступ к заблокированному контенту и конфиденциальный просмотр веб-страниц"]}}},"unleashApi":"https://account.proton.me/api"};
// We need to import data (the framework context) from the server
// This Astro feature with define:vars works well but creates an inline script
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Big Tech has already made enough money in 2024 to pay all its 2023 fines | Proton
Last year, Big Tech companies (Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft) received about $3.04 billion in fines for breaking laws on both sides of the Atlantic. As of seven days and three hours into 2024, they had already earned enough revenue to pay it all off.
A little over a week of operations is all it would take if the companies tackled their fines one after another. If they each paid their fines simultaneously, Meta would be the last to finish after five days and 13 hours.
This shows how insignificant these fines are for companies whose revenues are often larger than countries’ GDPs. In fact, 2023 was the second straight year these five companies were fined over $3 billion, showing that they view fines as nothing more than the cost of doing business.
This also assumes these companies act in good conscience and pay their fines promptly. Unfortunately, there’s no late payment penalty for Big Tech — and they often delay for years. It’s just another instance of Big Tech using its overwhelming revenue to bend or avoid the rules that govern the rest of us. Clearly, the current remedies for antitrust and privacy breaches are not having the desired effect.
Big Tech annual revenue dwarfs total fines
We published an article in August 2023 showing that the fines Big Tech companies received by that point in the year, some $2.3 billion, were inconsequential compared to their income. We thought it would be good to revisit those figures at the end of the year. We’ve calculated the average revenue earned per hour for each company using the latest figures reported. (We explain the sources we used for calculating this table at the bottom of this article.)
We also included fines these companies received in 2023 in the months after our article was published, such as a $700 million settlement in a case against Alphabet (Google) for how it illegally blocked competition on the Google Play Store(new window) that came out in December.
The updated table below shows the 2023 fine totals for each company, along with how long it would take them to pay off those fines with their 2023 average hourly revenue.
Company
2023 total fines
Time to pay off fine
Alphabet
$941 million
1 day, 3 hours, 55 minutes
Amazon
$111.7 million
1 hour, 50 minutes
Apple
$186.4 million
4 hours, 15 minutes
Meta
$1.72 billion
5 days, 13 hours, 25 minutes
Microsoft
$84 million
3 hours, 30 minutes
Total fines
$3.04 billion
7 days, 3 hours
For Apple and Microsoft, we calculated the average revenue per hour using the annual revenue amount in their 10-K report for their 2023 fiscal year (dates are noted in the table). We then divided that amount by 365 and then divided the resulting amount by 24 to reach the hourly average.
Alphabet (Google), Amazon, and Meta (Facebook) don’t release their annual financial statements until the beginning of February, so we calculated the average revenue per hour using the revenue they reported for the first nine months of 2023 in their September 10-Q report. We then divided that amount by 273 (the number of days in a year through Sept. 30) and then divided the resulting amount by 24 to reach the hourly average.
Delay, delay, delay
Big Tech companies can further water down the potential sting of these fines by delaying payment for years(new window). They’ve done this by filing appeals, counter-suing, or simply refusing to pay. Some notable examples include:
Every company has the right to appeal, and privacy abuses and antitrust cases are notoriously complicated and often governed by laws that were written well before the internet was invented, meaning a great deal of interpretation is necessary. Still, it’s not a sign of a functioning justice system for appeals to take such a long time while people continue to suffer data abuses and unfair high prices. Those with the deepest pockets can often drag out litigation well after it’s clear they have no chance of winning, taking time and resources away from regulators’ efforts to create a level playing field in the market.
Weak fines are not a deterrent
These paltry fines aren’t helpful if you think a fine should function as a punishment for poor corporate governance or an incentive for companies to change their behavior. If a company can pay off a fine with less than a week’s revenue or avoid paying it entirely for half a decade, then it won’t cause executives to tread cautiously.
For example, despite Meta racking up nearly $2 billion in fines and Google nearly $1 billion, both Mark Zuckerberg and Sundar Pichai remain secure in their CEO posts. While other CEOs might be ousted immediately if their companies were fined billions of dollars year after year, investors and board members are willing to accept them at Big Tech companies because $1 billion represents less than 1% of these company’s total revenue. They view these fines as nothing more than the cost of doing business under the surveillance capitalism business model. And as their balance sheets show, business remains good.
This is important because the internet has become one of the most (arguably the most) important pieces of global public infrastructure the world has ever seen. It connects billions of people to their friends and family, to gainful employment, to entertainment, to essential information, and more. Despite how essential it is to the global economy and society, governments around the world have allowed Big Tech to bend the internet to their will.
Big Tech knows people want privacy. It’s why Google and Apple have launched major ad campaigns talking about how they give you control of your data. However, if you look at the features they’re producing, they continue to search for new ways to collect people’s data, from launching metaverses to following your activity in other apps, showing they aren’t taking regulators seriously.
If we want to take back control of the internet, several things must happen.
First, governments must combat Big Tech. They must impose fines that get Big Tech’s attention for breaching user privacy and locking competitors out of the market.
But fines can only be part of the solution. Regulators, armed with strong antitrust legislation, must strongly challenge mergers that create massive monopolies. They must encourage competition and empower people to choose the service that is best for them.
There are several opportunities for legislators to empower regulators to ensure fair competition and protect people’s rights in the coming year, such as with the Digital Markets, Consumer and Competition Bill in the UK that’s currently going through Parliament. Similar legislative initiatives have started in South Korea and Japan, as well.
But until governments step in, you must protect your information yourself. If you remove your personal data from Big Tech’s reach, not only are you protecting your privacy, you’re also depriving Big Tech of the ability to sell targeted ads.
The above table is not an exhaustive list of all the fines these companies received in the 2023 calendar year. We included all the substantial fines we could find in major news sources, but there might be others. Also, this table excludes several censorship fines from Russia that seem motivated by Big Tech’s refusal to remove news about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Also, due to the fluctuation of foreign exchange rates, the dollar amounts might have shifted since this article was published.
Обеспечьте конфиденциальность своих данных с Proton
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