I think that Google is a monopoly. And if Ms. Vestager has proof that Google has favored their own results over others then I think it is good that they will be subject to fine. In the United States The Sherman Anti-trust Act was passed in 1890 to keep monopolies from thwarting the competitiveness of a market during the Gilded Age. I think that it is interesting to see even with this act and the Clayton Anti-Trust Act there are still many near monopolistic businesses that don't allow for a competitive and fair market.
I'm glad Google is getting its feet held to the fire, even if it is only in Europe and not here. Fifteen years ago, it was Microsoft which was being told to be less of a monopoly in the browser business, and even though Microsoft technically triumphed in court, it had an effect on them and they stopped some of their most abusive software practices. If this EU push helps Google realize they have wider responsibilities in society than simply to their users, it will be a good thing.
For me, this isn't only about Google. It is about all of these giant, multi-national tech companies with huge cash holdings and more power than many countries have. The only entities big enough to have any effect on their societal behaviors are the governments of the world. It is when we buy into the public relations campaigns from the likes of Google, Apple, Facebook, Uber and others that we get lulled into thinking they are benign, and allow them to have too much power and control over our lives. These companies huge, aggressive enterprises, not cuddly friends of ours. They serve themselves and their shareholders, not ordinary citizens, except as a by-product of their activities supposedly done for us.
1
Google should apologize to Europeans for the egregious 'crime' of promoting its own business over that of other businesses and promise never again to offer its services in Europe.
This is just another example of European protectionism. Just like so called "GMO foods" are banned in the EU for no valid reason, but simply because they were invented and developed in the US and threaten lower quality, more expensive, subsidized agricultural products in the EU, likewise the EU failure to challenge Google with equivalent or better search engines has given rise to ersatz monopoly claims. It is a lot tougher for entrepreneurs, especially on the tech side, to succeed in Europe for a plethora of reasons that have nothing to do with Google's success.
It doesn't matter if Google is promoting its own products when...
1. Google isn't trying to stop me from using other search engines--typing 'internet search engines' into Google results in duckduckgo being the first hit.
2. There's no cost to me switching search engines (or using them).
3. Other search engines probably won't be biased towards Google products.
So I guess I don't understand why Google is being considered a Monopoly?
E.g. Say I am an author and start giving away my books for free. Soon, every other author starts giving away their books for free. My books are much more well written than any of the other authors', and become very popular. If I had 90% of the book market, would I get shut down because my books promoted my own ideas?
1. Google isn't trying to stop me from using other search engines--typing 'internet search engines' into Google results in duckduckgo being the first hit.
2. There's no cost to me switching search engines (or using them).
3. Other search engines probably won't be biased towards Google products.
So I guess I don't understand why Google is being considered a Monopoly?
E.g. Say I am an author and start giving away my books for free. Soon, every other author starts giving away their books for free. My books are much more well written than any of the other authors', and become very popular. If I had 90% of the book market, would I get shut down because my books promoted my own ideas?
From their perspective, readers commenting from the US cannot understand the problem, To get riid of a virus, while in France I was forced to reinstall the OS of my windows laptop. My computer then woke up speaking french, and thinks it was born in the Old World. But now the google experience here is totally different and very frustrating-- though it is helpful to have a computer that knows how to spell in French.
1
This is how socialist Europe makes their money....off the backs of capitalism which works.
Is there evidence of wrongful anti-competitive practices, or is it just that Google search gives better results, so they have high market share? My personal experience, admittedly anecdotal, is that Google gives me the results for what I am looking. I much prefer the top of their lists to the results further down. I'm pleased that when I search a restaurant name, Google often gives me the restaurant's website, and its hours. And for a purchase, the top result is often Amazon-- presumably a competitor. Some high-market-share businesses deliver an inferior product, and smaller competitors are better. Not true for Google. Hasn't someone done a study in which searches were run with various engines on various phrases and seen which results consumers prefer? That seems a good way to determine the reason for Google high market share.
1
I don't go to google.com to read yelp. This is going to seriously degrade my experience. Europe, I'm sorry your tech industry sucks but you don't have to punish the rest of us.
4
Google should continue to stay back in America to build up its vast surveillance network to spy on its own citizens.
1
Over short 10 years, Google has gone from being great to greedy to evil. I believe antitrust action is overdue and will do Google good in long run.
2
I don't understand the problem...
there are many search engines, and no body is forcing anyone to use google. If someone wants to use bing, or some european search engine, they are perfectly free to do so.
there are many search engines, and no body is forcing anyone to use google. If someone wants to use bing, or some european search engine, they are perfectly free to do so.
6
Sometimes, regulation means more competition and more diversity.
Aren't competition and diversity the basic pillars in this country, called free market? Where is the free market with all these monopolies?
The EU does exactly the right thing.
Aren't competition and diversity the basic pillars in this country, called free market? Where is the free market with all these monopolies?
The EU does exactly the right thing.
2
I think that GOOGLE should just not allow the Europeans to use their search engine for a few hours. Lets see what happens then?
2
Indeed, billdaub. And that's EXACTLY why european uneasiness with Google is justified.
1
It's a constant battle keeping other (non-Google) search engines from making themselves my "default" search engine. And they are being sued for antitrust; give me a break. How could anyone say with a straight face he/she couldn't find an alternative search engine.
2
Astonishing. Anyone who actually looks into this would learn that Microsoft has been spending millions trying to tarnish Google's reputation in Europe. They were unable to compete in the marketplace, so they want to destroy Google with calumny and prosecutions for hire.
2
I suppose it's somewhat encouraging to know that somewhere in the world there's an independent judiciary that hasn't been bought out by corporate interests and stacked with its lackeys.
2
Google is an innovative company but not a perfect company. Google bashing has to be measured to trim away the fat, the excessive power of Google and any malpractice. Europe needs to workout their differences and conflicts with Google by sitting across the table instead of this costly litigation that Google will face in the form of antitrust charges to be defended in European courts. This way Europeans can show that they are not overly hostile to global businesses but at the same time they adhere to European laws. There is not a day goes by without using Google and I would hope that Google will continue to innovate and contribute to the progress of humankind.
2
Google is a monopoly. Yes, monopolies are by definition successful, but inevitably a monopoly will cease being successful by innovation and instead game the system to maintain their monopoly.
Take search rankings. Who decides how your business is ranked in Google searches? Google does. What's the algorithm? They won't tell you. Is the algorithm fair and unbiased? How would you know? Does buying into Google's many business services boost your ranking? That would be a conflict of interest.
Could it be that some Google manager of software developer is corrupt and tweaking search rankings to favor one company or other? You can't be sure. What internal audits does Google perform to ensure their algorithms are on the up and up?
Power is a corrupting influence. Google has a lot of power, not only over search results, but also the economic fortune of many businesses than depend on search rankings.
Take search rankings. Who decides how your business is ranked in Google searches? Google does. What's the algorithm? They won't tell you. Is the algorithm fair and unbiased? How would you know? Does buying into Google's many business services boost your ranking? That would be a conflict of interest.
Could it be that some Google manager of software developer is corrupt and tweaking search rankings to favor one company or other? You can't be sure. What internal audits does Google perform to ensure their algorithms are on the up and up?
Power is a corrupting influence. Google has a lot of power, not only over search results, but also the economic fortune of many businesses than depend on search rankings.
5
The amazing development is not that Google faces antitrust action in Europe but that they have never been challenged by our meek antitrust enforcement here in the U.S. And why is Warren Buffet allowed to seek control of Heinz and Kraft to create another food oligarchy when it will result in huge job losses for hundreds or thousands of affected families who will find themselves devastated by Mr. Buffet's pursuit of another monopoly? Where is our Attorney General and his boss Mr. Obama who stand by and allow our economy to lose millions of jobs only to satisfy Wall Street billionaires desire for more monopoly power and profits? Too bad we haven't come up with another trust-busting Teddy Roosevelt to foil the array of oligarch wannabees that have taken over an economy that was supposed to serve the whole country not just a privileged 1%.
15
Fortunately, Google doesn't have a monopoly over anything, so there is no need for any trust-busting. Also, bringing up one of America's most embarrassing presidents isn't impressive. This is nothing more than the EU trying to flex its muscles at American companies operating in their space, and there is no European equivalent that could come even close to the amount of traffic, efficiency, and effectiveness as a search engine.
Also, Google is now responsible for wealth inequality? Man, you left-wingers will say just about anything. X-D
Also, Google is now responsible for wealth inequality? Man, you left-wingers will say just about anything. X-D
Antitrust is only the beginning.
Google has NO respect for privacy.
Google shoves ads at every opportunity, at all of us, including children, and is responsible for more consumption, pollution, and global warming than any other search company.
Google is apolitical and donates to everyone, especially republicans.
We need to regulate these pigs. I hope Europe hits back.
Google has NO respect for privacy.
Google shoves ads at every opportunity, at all of us, including children, and is responsible for more consumption, pollution, and global warming than any other search company.
Google is apolitical and donates to everyone, especially republicans.
We need to regulate these pigs. I hope Europe hits back.
12
Like many other tech companies, Google is an evil company, spying on us all for its own benefit and for the government. It censored for China.
It deserves misfortune. Good for the Europeans, I hope they give a lot of it to Google. The US government won't go after them since it is in bed with Google to spy on us all.
It deserves misfortune. Good for the Europeans, I hope they give a lot of it to Google. The US government won't go after them since it is in bed with Google to spy on us all.
1
Um, it lost out on billions of dollars by leaving China because they could no longer avoid censoring.
When they did censor, they put up a big, red notice on affected queries that the results were censored.
What reality are you living in?
When they did censor, they put up a big, red notice on affected queries that the results were censored.
What reality are you living in?
1
It is more than abundantly clear that Europe is engaged in protectionism under the guise of antitrust enforcement. The EU offered to settle with Google numerous times only to have their own proposed settlements upended due to political pressure. And European politicians have been fairly open that they want government forces to interfere in the marketplace to promote homegrown European firms over American rivals.
Of course Google's American rivals have latched on to all this to further their own business interests after having been unable to win significant market-share in the free market.
Of course Google's American rivals have latched on to all this to further their own business interests after having been unable to win significant market-share in the free market.
14
The Europeans are waiting for the legal moment to copycat Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. Obviously European Governments will finance most of this, similar to how they tried to shoot Boeing.
4
So another example of Europeans trying to'level the playing field' through regulation - they certainly don't apply the same rules to European companies and their subsidies.
18
Of COURSE the EU wants to penalize Google. Why?
o Google is big and successful. Envy plays a HUGE part in Europe.
o They think Google will pay billions. They won't, even if the EU needs money.
o Google has made many rich, including thousands of Europeans. The EU hates that.
o Google won't kowtow to the silly bugger bureaucrats of the EU.
This is YOUR country, folks, if you allow the 'progressive' socialist wing of the Democrat Party to keep control of our government. Central government, silly rules, wealth destruction.
o Google is big and successful. Envy plays a HUGE part in Europe.
o They think Google will pay billions. They won't, even if the EU needs money.
o Google has made many rich, including thousands of Europeans. The EU hates that.
o Google won't kowtow to the silly bugger bureaucrats of the EU.
This is YOUR country, folks, if you allow the 'progressive' socialist wing of the Democrat Party to keep control of our government. Central government, silly rules, wealth destruction.
9
Of COURSE California Man - all out war on Europe. Why has no one else suggested that?
3
When did he make that suggestion? Do you have a lot of experience constructing straw men?
Do you think it's really because the EU is broke?
I used to work in the tech field. The Europeans were laughable with their strict class observance. No meritocracy whatsoever. The Europeans never could have developed a search engine. They are jealous,and perhaps need to study why their societies tend to stifle innovation..
23
But none of that excuses Google acting like an abusive monopoly, and crushing competition based on their dominance in search. Whether or not the Europeans could develop their own search, no one has been able to compete effectively against Google in Europe, including Bing, Yahoo, and everyone else. The fact that Google has dominated search so thoroughly doesn't give them the right to illegally squash their competition or otherwise ignore the laws of any country - in fact, there have been allegations that their close ties with the current US administration are the only thing that saved them from a similar antitrust suit here in the US.
10
Those laughable Europeans invented the web.
Moreover, as it was at the Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire, there may even have been French people involved. No wonder it led to nothing. Quelle horreur.
Moreover, as it was at the Organisation européenne pour la recherche nucléaire, there may even have been French people involved. No wonder it led to nothing. Quelle horreur.
It isn't acting like a monopoly. People are free to choose other search engines. No one is forcing google on users. But Google has the largest market share because it is the best available search engine. That is not a monopoly but the result of excellence.
1
Between the moronic "Right (Rich) to be forgotten" laws that don't stop the actual site just the search results and this; Google, please leave Europe and let them create a European search engine. I can see it now, the British will have to approve each and every link, none of that smut now.
11
Google is just one of many near monopolistic companies that need to be broken up. A handful of Wall Street banks control most financial transactions in the US. Comcast is one of the most abusive service providers in existence followed closely by AT&T Wireless. Amazon has a stranglehold on the publishing business and book sales. Rupert Murdoch controls many major "news" outlets to the point they are his personal propaganda machines. Halliburton gets "no bid" contracts from the US government and Blackwater has a lock on privatized guns for hire.
So Google is a problem but they are far from alone.
So Google is a problem but they are far from alone.
24
No one is forcing people to use only Google's search engine. People can use Yahoo or Bing or other smaller search engines. It just so happens most Europeans use Google because they were the first really good search engine available. I'm sure if a better search engine was created, it would take away market share from Google.
This is not like the Microsoft browser issue years ago where the default on window PC's was Windows Explorer and using other browsers was much more difficult. Even then, the anti-trust prosecution was premature because Microsoft quickly lost ground on early internet connectivity.
As I said earlier, no one is forcing people to use Google. People use it because no other search engine is as good.
This is not like the Microsoft browser issue years ago where the default on window PC's was Windows Explorer and using other browsers was much more difficult. Even then, the anti-trust prosecution was premature because Microsoft quickly lost ground on early internet connectivity.
As I said earlier, no one is forcing people to use Google. People use it because no other search engine is as good.
1
Google isn't a monopoly and it isn't a problem outside of your imagination. This is just the left's "I don't like people who have more money than I do"-syndrome. I'm sorry you are not creative and entrepreneurial enough to be rich, but don't deflect by making up a bunch of lies and chucking in unrelated and irrelevant information to come to an emotionally-derived conclusion.
1
Google, like Microsoft before them, is being threatened by the Europeans for being too successful at what it does. Successful companies, like successful individuals, offend the egalitarian spirit of Europe, since they make less successful ones feel bad about themselves.
For anyone in tech these actions by the EU are a Big Deal. This article barely scratches the surface of the implications. In the USA, Google has carte blanche.
7
Thank you, Europe, for forcing capitalists to actually behave like capitalists.
16
Google shut down GAN (Google Affiliate Network) in 2013 disrupting lives of millions of individuals and companies, did anyone hear about it ?? No one dare complain about the big bully, or you will be in the bottom of page rank (PR)
1