> ... why is this evil? Because Google didn't want to pay its own critics? This seems like a rhetorical argument that conflates power and self-interest with mo

> ... why is this evil? Because Google didn't want to pay its own critics? This seems like a rhetorical argument that conflates power and self-interest with morality. Google certainly has the power to do it, and certainly anyone can see its self-interest, but that doesn't mean it should; power and self-interest are not the only factors. There is clear harm to society if the powerful use their power to limit public criticism, and that's a well-known, ongoing problem in the U.S. (among other places). > Open Markets is free, as they themselves admit, to continue their work elsewhere. The money must come from somebody with power and resources. They are free-as-in-speech to move on, but not as-in-beer.