Seeming monopolies partner to share data? It appears so. While the language announcing the “Data Transfer Project” involving Google, Facebook, Twitter and Microsoft is couched in consumer-friendly terms, with Google’s blog post saying the open-source project will mean consumers can “import their information into any participating service,” the timing is coincidental with GDPR-like legislation and antitrust talk occurring in the U.S.
Russell Brandom of The Verge hypothesizes on Friday that the move to make user data portable in the U.S. that’s in-line with E.U. GDPR requirements is meant to manage risk.