South Korea fines Google and Apple $47.6M, tech firms back AI training opt-out standard

South Korea’s antitrust fines for Google and Apple

The Korea Media and Communications Commission (KMCC) fined Google 42.9 billion won ($32 million) and Apple 20.8 billion won ($15.5 million) for violations of a 2021 law that prohibits app stores from forcing developers to use their payment systems. The fines are the first imposed under this law, which aims to promote fair competition and developer rights in the digital payments ecosystem.

According to the KMCC, both companies charged a 26% commission on payments made through third-party systems, while also imposing restrictions on how developers could display pricing for alternative payment methods. Apple was additionally penalized for including VAT in its prices for Korean developers between July 2015 and January 2023, effectively charging them more than foreign developers.

The KMCC has given Google and Apple one month to submit a compliance plan and three months to implement the required changes, including allowing developers to link to external payment options. Both companies have expressed disagreement with the decision, with Apple stating that its practices comply with Korean law and Google regretting that its compliance efforts were not fully reflected in the ruling.

AI training opt-out standard announced

Google, Microsoft, Anthropic, and OpenAI announced plans to support a new industry standard that allows website operators to block AI training-related scraping via a single entry in the robots.txt file. The standard, proposed in an IETF draft by Anthropic’s Kevin Kelley, simplifies the process for publishers to opt out of having their content used for training generative AI models.

The new directive, labeled __usage_ai-training, will be incorporated into the Robots Exclusion Protocol. It does not affect general crawling or visibility on search engines like Google but focuses specifically on AI training data collection. Anthropic has already begun supporting the directive, while OpenAI plans to implement it in the coming months. Google and Microsoft will follow in early 2027.

Microsoft also introduced an additional setting called AI Grounding, which allows website operators to block its services from accessing webpages to answer user questions, separate from training data collection. OpenAI plans to offer similar controls.

While the standard has gained support from major AI companies, it is not legally binding. The IETF has not endorsed the draft, and private agreements between publishers and AI firms can override the opt-out signal. Meta expressed support for the idea but has not committed to implementation.

Reddit reports decline in Google search referrals

Reddit CEO Steve Huffman reported that the platform lost over one million Google search referrals per week in October 2026 due to Google’s AI Overviews and AI Mode features. Huffman described this shift as a fundamental change in how Google operates, reducing traffic not just for Reddit but potentially for the entire web.

Despite strong earnings, Reddit’s shares dropped over 25% amid concerns about its dependence on Google for traffic. The company is testing login walls outside the U.S. to curb scraping and reduce reliance on the open web, viewing it as a trade-off between reach and deeper user engagement.

Data licensing talks between Reddit and AI providers are ongoing, though the outcome remains uncertain. Reddit previously had a profitable data licensing deal with Google, highlighting the platform’s value as a data source for AI training.

Tech companies resist government data requests

U.S. tech companies, including Google and Meta, are quietly pushing back against government subpoenas from agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to protect user data and free speech. ICE has used administrative subpoenas, which do not require judicial approval, to target critics, journalists, and protestors, raising concerns about surveillance and suppression of dissent.

Democratic lawmakers, including Sen. Ron Wyden and Rep. Pramila Jayapal, have criticized ICE’s use of subpoenas to surveil free speech. In response, tech companies are updating their terms of use to increase transparency about data handovers to authorities, while some are delaying or challenging ICE requests to avoid complicity in investigations.

The shift follows broader industry scrutiny of user data compliance, particularly after companies complied with Trump administration subpoenas. The move signals growing resistance to government overreach and a commitment to protecting user privacy.

What this means

Lazyfounder analysis — our interpretation, not reported fact.

For founders and operators, these developments signal three critical shifts in the digital ecosystem.

First, the fines in South Korea underscore the growing regulatory scrutiny of app store practices, particularly around payment systems and developer rights. Companies with global operations—especially those reliant on Google or Apple’s app stores—must reassess their compliance with local antitrust laws. The requirement to allow external payment links within months could disrupt revenue models that depend on in-app purchase commissions, forcing developers to adapt quickly.

Second, the adoption of a unified AI training opt-out standard via robots.txt introduces a new layer of control for content creators and publishers. While the standard simplifies the process of blocking AI training-related scraping, it does not guarantee compliance from all AI firms or override existing licensing agreements. Publishers must weigh the benefits of opting out against potential loss of visibility in AI-driven discovery tools, which are increasingly shaping how users access information.

Finally, Reddit’s reported decline in Google search referrals highlights the risks of over-reliance on a single traffic source. Founders should diversify their acquisition strategies to mitigate structural risks from algorithmic changes or shifts in user behavior. The login wall strategy Reddit is testing—prioritizing deeper engagement over reach—may offer a template for platforms seeking to reduce dependence on external traffic while retaining value for users and advertisers.

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