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I get that competition is vital for a free-market to function, unless Google gained power in this scenario through external influences such as government, then

I get that competition is vital for a free-market to function, unless Google gained power in this scenario through external influences such as government, then surely it has gained its position through market competition?

matthewmacleod 9y ago
Yes, but the method of it gaining power is irrelevant – what matters is how that power is used. There's nothing wrong with Google having a huge market share. But when that market share is used to essentially hide knowledge about competitors, isn't it obvious that the market becomes less free?
- vegancap 9y ago
  That's very true, I think Google are in a very unique position where the normal understanding of monopolies perhaps don't apply, or are even more serious as they essentially control the flow of information to such a large degree. Very good point.
zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 9y ago
And if you invited people into your house, and they came of their free will, then you surely got them into your house legally? Yes, you did. And now you have the de-facto monopoly over the key for the front door. So, what could be wrong with asking for half their life savings if they want to be let out?
- vegancap 9y ago
  I don't think a shopping comparison channel, which actually doesn't command a particularly large share of price comparison sites, is comparable to life savings. Surely, you'd take these results with a pinch of salt and 'shop around'?
  - zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 9y ago
    That's besides the point. It's simply that the fact that you got de-facto power over people by doing legal or even fair things does not necessarily entitle you to use that power however you like. And at least the EU commission seems to have come to the conclusion that Google has used its power that it got due to its successful search engine to promote their price comparison site more than it did competing sites, and that not solely based on merits of the site itself. Whether people could potentially evade the manipulation if they cared enough is irrelevant, just as it is irrelevant whether a fraud victim could have figured out they were being defrauded if they had cared enough.

matthewmacleod 9y ago

Yes, but the method of it gaining power is irrelevant – what matters is how that power is used. There's nothing wrong with Google having a huge market share. But when that market share is used to essentially hide knowledge about competitors, isn't it obvious that the market becomes less free?

vegancap 9y ago
That's very true, I think Google are in a very unique position where the normal understanding of monopolies perhaps don't apply, or are even more serious as they essentially control the flow of information to such a large degree. Very good point.

zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 9y ago

And if you invited people into your house, and they came of their free will, then you surely got them into your house legally? Yes, you did. And now you have the de-facto monopoly over the key for the front door. So, what could be wrong with asking for half their life savings if they want to be let out?

vegancap 9y ago
I don't think a shopping comparison channel, which actually doesn't command a particularly large share of price comparison sites, is comparable to life savings. Surely, you'd take these results with a pinch of salt and 'shop around'?
- zAy0LfpBZLC8mAC 9y ago
  That's besides the point. It's simply that the fact that you got de-facto power over people by doing legal or even fair things does not necessarily entitle you to use that power however you like. And at least the EU commission seems to have come to the conclusion that Google has used its power that it got due to its successful search engine to promote their price comparison site more than it did competing sites, and that not solely based on merits of the site itself. Whether people could potentially evade the manipulation if they cared enough is irrelevant, just as it is irrelevant whether a fraud victim could have figured out they were being defrauded if they had cared enough.