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Google Seeking To Promote Rivals To Stave Off EU Antitrust Action (reuters.com)
Google is trying to boost price comparison rivals such as Kelkoo in an effort to appease European Union antitrust regulators and ward off fresh fines following a $2.7 billion penalty nearly two years ago. "The European Commission said Alphabet unit Google had used its search engine market power to unfairly promote its own comparison shopping service," reports Reuters. From the report: The company subsequently offered to allow price-comparison rivals to bid for advertising space at the top of a search page, giving them the chance to compete on equal terms. But competitors said the measure failed to create a level playing field. Earlier this month, Google introduced a new link on its search results which aims to drive more traffic to price comparison rivals. British competitor Kelkoo said on its blog that it was one of several companies selected to try out the new link which will initially be available in Germany, France and the Netherlands. EU antitrust enforcers could levy fines up to 5 percent of Google's average daily worldwide turnover if it fails to comply with the 2017 order.
...is the ultimate Sock Puppet.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
5% of daily turnover... that's 0.0137%
$18 million maybe? That's all of Alphabet though.
I don't get it, those sites suck, they just seem to lead from one price comparison site to another in a big ole price comparison circle jerk, interspersed with some of the scummiest looking websites out they, often generating browser warnings about a known attack site. Google's bakes search results to favour it profits and worse than that it's politcs and the egos of it's executives and upon a broad scale. All they need do is start promoting alternate search engines, at government level. Stop using those companies services, direct the public to other services, there are really a quite simply series of steps to take. Look want to punish Google easy, block Gmail addresses on email and respond with an alert to the person attempting contact and provide alternates.
Chaos - everything, everywhere, everywhen
I mean, the better analogy is that they aren't starting the swimming events immediately after the marathon (and with the same participants). Because if they did Omar McLeod would be done with all of them (and possibly win the medals) before Michael Phelps got in the water.
Anti-monopoly laws prevent you from using your dominance in one area (e.g. search) no matter how obtained, from dominating another (e.g. comparison shopping.)
Your ad here. Ask me how!
Damn. Ninja'ed by an AC, and no mod points to bestow.
Il n'y a pas de Planet B.
That's the EU in a nutshell.
Yes it is because the EU is not the arbiter of a race where we're seeing which global megacorp can win getting to the absive monopoly position fastest.
SJW n. One who posts facts.
In related news, world governments have said that, going forwards, police forces worldwide are going to be dismantled so as to allow the the physically strongest to rob and rule over the meek as they please. Pure and healthy competition.
If a company is large enough it can prevent people from knowing about the alternatives.
People in the EU have the wealth and ability to start their own EU services.
The "internet" is not some new thing that has to be exported from the USA to the EU.
People in the EU are more happy to use an innovative US service than something someone in the EU attempted to design.
What can EU nations gov do?
Use language and police laws to force people in the EU to only use a EU created product/service?
Demand people in the EU pay to use a product made in the EU?
The US service is "free" for consumers and works well? Why should EU nations have to pay to use another EU nations products that are not as good as the better quality US service?
No freedom and a selection of EU products that don't have the same ability of the US services?
Only approve EU nations network products for use in the EU?
Thats not free and fair trade with the USA.
Most of this was attempted in the 1970's and 1980's. People all over the world used their money to buy better quality US OS and US software.
Better quality games, the internet, productivity software and GUI all won over EU nation consumers to innovative and well funded US brands.
Years later in 2019 US networks and now advanced and innovative US internet services are still winning over EU nations.
The US brands understand computers and networks at the consumer level globally in 2019. The EU understands laws, rules, regulations and new taxes.
Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"