Mar 13, 2019 - Technology

Spotify files complaint against Apple

Spotify logo. Photo: Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto via Getty Images

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek wrote in a post Wednesday that the company filed a complaint against Apple with the European Commission claiming Apple's App Store tries to "deliberately disadvantage other app developers" by forcing a 30% tax on Spotify and other digital services and limiting communication to customers.

Why it matters: Netflix has been directing their users to subscribe in different ways than the App Store to avoid the exact same fees since at last August, Billboard reports. Though Apple Music is a competitor, Spotify claims Apple's App Store purposely makes it difficult for the developer. After the two companies couldn't work it out, Ek turned to the EC, which oversees fair and nondiscriminatory competition in business practices.

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Rebecca Falconer
Updated 23 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Supreme Court blocks Alabama curbside voting measure

Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images

The Supreme Court on Wednesday evening blocked a lower court order that would have allowed voters to cast ballots curbside at Alabama polling places on Election Day.

Whit it matters: With less than two weeks until Election Day, the justices voted 5-3 to reinstate the curbside voting ban and overturn a lower court judge's ruling designed to protect people with disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic.

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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Coronavirus dashboard

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

  1. Politics: Senate Democrats block vote on McConnell's targeted COVID relief bill — McConnell urges White House not to strike stimulus deal before election.
  2. Economy: Why the stimulus delay isn't a crisis (yet).
  3. Health: New York reports most COVID cases since May — Studies show drop in coronavirus death rate — The next wave is gaining steam.
  4. Education: Schools haven't become hotspots — San Francisco public schools likely won't reopen before the end of the year.
  5. World: Spain becomes first nation in Western Europe to exceed 1 million cases.
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Jacob Knutson
2 hours ago - Politics & Policy

U.S. officials: Iran and Russia aim to interfere in election

Iran and Russia have obtained voter registration information that can be used to undermine confidence in the U.S. election system, Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe announced at a press conference Wednesday evening.

Why it matters: The revelation comes roughly two weeks before Election Day. Ratcliffe said Iran has sent threatening emails to Democratic voters this week in states across the U.S. and spread videos claiming that people can vote more than once.

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