This is a ridiculous story. The EU passes a law that says they will find booking up to 10% of their annual global revenue if they don't allow businesses to contact users directly outside the "gatekeeper" channels. Now they threaten a 6% fine because of those communications.

Come at me (in no particular order)

Meanwhile in Brussels... pro.politico.eu/news/224989

The KIDS Act's answer is the EU Age Verification Scheme: a proof-of-age attestation from a certified issuer, held in an app or the EU Digital Identity Wallet. Modelled on Estonia's X-Road: verified data exchange, no single point of control. The least-bad option on the table.

The Commission's proposal sets a staircase of age gates: • Under 13: no social media • 13–14: "mini" accounts set up by guardians • 15–17: own accounts, safe by design The Commission's explainer: digital-strategy.ec.europa.e…

Remember this chart when anyone tries to defend "Europe's prized digital acquis"

What I like to call the "Brussels anti-effect"

Note, Epic recently dropped the fee it charges creators in its ecosystem, from a whopping 74%, down to 37%. Apple's 5% fee is peanuts in comparison.