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Google Facing Billions in EU Antitrust Fines (axios.com)

Posted by msmash on from the never-ending-tussle dept.

Another EU antitrust fine for Google is coming down the pipe in mid-July over allegations Google has used its Android mobile operating system to beat out rivals, Reuters reports. From a report: The European Commission has been investigating the case since 2015. It's another example of how the EU takes anti-competition violations far more seriously than the U.S. In June of last year, the EU slapped Google with a record $2.8 billion fine for anti-trust practices around its search product, which they said unfairly pushed consumers to use Google's Shopping platform. Sources told Reuters they expect this new fine to top that record.

5 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. I would love it by registrations_suck · · Score: 1, Interesting

    I would love it if every one of the Top 5 (Apple, Microsoft, Google/Alphabet, Facebook, Amazon) said "You know what? Fuck it. We're out" and just left Europe entirely. Just leave it to its own devices.

    1. Re:I would love it by Oswald+McWeany · · Score: 3, Interesting

      I would love it if every one of the Top 5 (Apple, Microsoft, Google/Alphabet, Facebook, Amazon) said "You know what? Fuck it. We're out" and just left Europe entirely. Just leave it to its own devices.

      The EU is larger economically than the US. Sure, they could leave, but they'd be losing a huge % of their profits. They don't want to do that. They also know if they left the EU it would give other countries free roam to fill in the gap and create their own companies doing the same thing. Those companies could then operate in the US.

      It would be a death knell to those companies to leave the EU.

      --
      "That's the way to do it" - Punch
  2. Re:Apple was not beaten out. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    The EU is just sucking money out of US tech firms now.

    The US is doing the same, e.g fines against Volkswagen or pretty much any court decision in cases of US corp. vs. non-US corp, e.g. all those Apple vs Samsung cases where even former President Obama intervened on behalf of Apple.

  3. Re: Would it cost them less to just stop serving E by cayenne8 · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Perhaps they should not have started a business in a place they where unwilling to follow the law.

    Well, they seem to be just changing the laws under them over and over again...becoming more onerous each time.

    This is like the EU is trying to step up and dictate what a private company's business model is.

    If the EU wants a search without the things Google offers and requires of its users, why don't they just build a state sponsored service, EUuugle or something and offer that to their citizens, rather than trying to dictate to a private company?

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  4. Re:We know all your searches... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I'm not the biggest Google fan in the world, but if I were Google, I'd just say "ok", and turn off google entirely for EU for awhile, and see how they liked it.

    I hope your wish comes true and Google does just that.

    Because then one or more search engines would reach critical mass while also obeying the EU's privacy laws.

    Those entities would then be able to compete against Google while lobbying the US to change its privacy laws.

    Google would then have no business model, and would hopefully die a painful death (unless countries like China kept it afloat because they're willing to do the Chinese government's bidding...).

    And all you Google fanbois can chew on THAT.