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Big Tech should worry about the EU’s Amazon antitrust fight

Good morning and Happy Veterans Day! Thanks to all those who have served. This Wednesday: What other companies should take from the EU's antitrust complaint against Amazon, what's inside Apple's new Macs, and why tech is all over the Biden transition team.
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The U.S. Justice Department may be focused on Google and Facebook — with Congress mostly interested in yelling about conservative bias on social networks — but the antitrust fight is coming for Amazon anyway.
Taking note: the legal teams at Google, Facebook, Apple and elsewhere, who will find a lot of familiar context in the EU's complaint. Whereas the DOJ's suit against Google is specific enough that other companies can breathe easily, this one is all-encompassing.
Amazon's next move is to respond to the statement, then wait for a ruling. The European Commission could fine the company (which Amazon would see as a big win almost no matter the amount) or force it to change its way of doing business in the EU. That would be a big problem for Amazon, but not as big as the problems that could come from other governments and agencies surely watching to see how this fight plays out.
"We love the Mac," Tim Cook said at the beginning of yesterday's Apple launch event. And I swear I could hear every developer in Silicon Valley yell, "Yeah, OK, whatever Tim, now how about that keyboard?"
Apple clearly thinks the future is an iPad for most regular people, rather than a laptop or desktop. But after yesterday's event, it's at least obvious it still cares about the Mac.
Apple framed the new lineup carefully, and as more than just "the Macs you know, now with Apple Silicon." It seems to understand that most people's laptops and desktops are the hub of their setups: maybe not the device they use most often, but the one that has all the storage and all the apps.
Oh, and if you missed John Hodgman's awesome comeback, you gotta see it.
Emily Birnbaumand Anna Kramer write: Yesterday, we found out that Joe Biden's transition team is absolutely stacked with tech industry players — more than 20, in fact. These are the people who will figure out who should be hired at the various federal agencies, meaning their input will seriously shape the Biden administration.
Some people on the list might look to prepare the administration for fights with Big Tech. But they're outnumbered by those who could lend it a pro-tech flavor, and the full list includes folks from almost every big company in the industry. Here are a few of the most notable names.
That's surely not all: There will be more names to come once the transition team starts announcing some of the big agency roles. And if you're looking for even more soon-to-be D.C. power players you might want to add on LinkedIn, here's a good list to start with.
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Facebook is "shredding the fabric of our democracy" in these post-election days, Biden spokesman Bill Russo said:
The only way to compete with Big Tech is to do things they're not, Mark Cuban said:
WarnerMedia is reorganizing and laying off more than 1,000 people, and its CEO Jason Kilar said the company just needed to be different:
Beyoncé is heading to your Peloton. Her new partnership includes music but also a series of "themed workout experiences," making her the most famous among a new industry of, err, Pelofluencers that I suspect you're going to see a lot of.
Kevin Mayer is a new advisor at Access Industries. The former TikTok CEO will "focus on its media businesses and identify new potential opportunities for the firm," The Wall Street Journal reported.
Noam Bardin is leaving Waze after more than a decade at the top of the company. He'll step down officially in January, and is already looking for his replacement. So get at him.
Gabriella Kellerman is the new chief product officer at BetterUp. Dr. Kellerman had previously been the company's chief innovation officer and head of BetterUp Labs.
Jennifer Berrent might leave WeWork, Bloomberg reports. The company's chief legal officer, who was once co-president, is reportedly in talks to depart early next year.
Don't ever let anyone tell you gaming's not an extreme sport. Especially when you're playing at 18,569 feet above sea level, like Will Cruz did to win a contest around the launch of Far Cry 4. Turns out, the PS4 works just fine up in the Himalayas! Wonder how high the PS5 can go.
Register today for the inaugural City Possible Summit, pioneered by Mastercard. Experience the superpower of collaboration by visiting the City Possible Digital Plaza and hear from thought leaders from across the cities ecosystem who are committed to driving equitable urban development.
Today's Source Code was written by David Pierce, with help from Shakeel Hashim. Thoughts, questions, tips? Send them to david@protocol.com, or our tips line, tips@protocol.com. Enjoy your day; see you tomorrow.
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