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Google Should Be Broken Up, Say European MPs

Posted by samzenpus on from the breaking-things-up dept.

An anonymous reader is one of many to send word that the European Parliament has voted 384 to 174 in favor of unbundling search engines from other commercial services in order to ensure competition. "The European Parliament has voted in favor of breaking Google up, as a solution to complaints that it favors is own services in search results. Politicians have no power to enforce a break-up, but the landmark vote sends a clear message to European regulators to get tough on the net giant. US politicians and trade bodies have voiced their dismay at the vote. The ultimate decision will rest with EU competition commissioner Margrethe Vestager. She has inherited the anti-competitive case lodged by Google's rivals in 2010. Google has around 90% market share for search in Europe. The Commission has never before ordered the break-up of any company, and many believe it is unlikely to do so now. But politicians are desperate to find a solution to the long-running anti-competitive dispute with Google."

4 of 237 comments (clear)

  1. No clue? by BarbaraHudson · · Score: 1, Informative

    "Politicians have no power to enforce a break-up"

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    "Transparent" is a shit show that trades on every stereotype going. A man in drag is NOT a transsexual.
    1. Re:No clue? by sFurbo · · Score: 4, Informative

      While I haven't been following European politics lately, I would think that this is part of the power struggle between the European Parliament (elected directly by the European voters) and the commission (members are selected by the governments of the member states, though I think the parliament have to approve the final result). Traditionally, the parliament have had very little power, and has been getting more power (primarily at the expense of the commission) a little at a time. This kind of votes are usually held to highlight who has what power in the hopes that it will help them change it (so basically telling the people "See? If we had more power, we would do something about this issue.").

  2. The directive does not mention google. by Whiney+Mac+Fanboy · · Score: 5, Informative

    No Clue indeed. No clue from almost anyone reporting on this piece of news. (it is dissapointing that the BBC headline is so wrong)

    Have a read of the Euro Parliament's Press release or (unbelievably better than the BBC) Tech Crunch.

    Its a general resolution about online search engines bundling services & about the need to enforce European Competitions laws in the online space.

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    There are shills on slashdot. Apparently, I'm one of them.
  3. Re:ITT: by x0ra · · Score: 1, Informative

    iOS updates are free, moreover, Google Mobile Services are licensed with a fee to the manufacturer. So your point is invalid...