> But then… a couple of months later, Google completely removed the option for us to scan our own code. Instead, to keep access to Google Drive, we would now have to pay one of Google’s business partners to conduct the review.
What a racket. Smells downright anti-competitive The EU will have fun with this when it catches up.
Just as a data point, we paid $750 for one of these engagements (scan + some discussion about use cases etc) to one of Google's preferred providers. There were multiple options for providers.
And the issue is the other corporations may likely follow, so you have to stack hefty audit sum every year for multiple monopolistic cloud vendors because you made some cheap documents scanner app with convenient storage options for your user.
The EU absolutely loves adding requirements for certifications, so no I don't think they would get involved here. In fact, it's something they are pushing for in general.
I live here, I have a fairly good idea. The EU has quite aggressively pursued different big tech companies over the last few years. The fines have become quite material.
> Smells downright anti-competitive The EU will have fun with this when it catches up
What? The EU wants to introduce certifications for all products and services, further kneecapping local innovation through regulation and costly certifications.
Seems more like a harmonization effort than what Google is proposing here? Or maybe I'm reading it wrong.
If I don't get one of these mandarin-approved certifications, will I no longer be able to do business? [The Google audits are a hard barrier to connecting to their cloud platform]
It's perhaps a difference between prescriptive and descriptive.
I suspect interference from European industry groups coupled with EU bureaucrats' failure to understand technology and willingness to make software 'secure' by doing paperwork.
What a racket. Smells downright anti-competitive The EU will have fun with this when it catches up.