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Monsanto is evil for tricking farmers or for unfair business practices, not for lobbying. This is a false equivalency. Google advocates for things that are gene

Monsanto is evil for tricking farmers or for unfair business practices, not for lobbying. This is a false equivalency. Google advocates for things that are generally in the public interest and does not abuse those position as many companies of their size do.

kogepathic 9y ago
> Google advocates for things that are generally in the public interest and does not abuse those position as many companies of their size do. Yes, they do that now. What about in the future? There's no guarantee that they won't start lobbying for things which entrench their monopoly and help their business while harming consumers. Just look at Google Fiber. At one point in time it seemed they might actually disrupt incumbent providers like Comcast, but they figured it wasn't in their interests and mothballed it.
- Secretmapper 9y ago
  Source on wasn't in their interests? I've only read that they couldn't continue it due to a: aggressive regulations by incumbers preventing entry of new ISPs (such as Fiber), b: most companies (like Comcast) miraculously offered fiber once Google Fiber was in the game, and c: they're focusing on wireless/balloon solutions. These are just what I read but I would love to hear if this was just PR and there was a sinister reason like you imply.
  - rayiner 9y ago
    > I've only read that they couldn't continue it due to a: aggressive regulations by incumbers preventing entry of new ISPs (such as Fiber) The truth is the exact opposite. Google got very favorable treatment from fiber cities: https://techliberation.com/2012/08/07/what-google-fiber-says-about-tech-policy-fiber-rings-fit-deregulatory-hands https://techliberation.com/2012/08/07/what-google-fiber-says.... See also: http://crosscut.com/2014/12/google-fiber-never-come-seattle-broadband-internet-2 http://crosscut.com/2014/12/google-fiber-never-come-seattle-.... The difference between Mountain View and Kansas City isn’t that that Comcast has somehow managed to out-lobby Google in Google’s own back yard. That’s absurd.
PeachPlum 9y ago
11 Sep 2017 · Google today appealed the record €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion USD) antitrust fine levied against it by the EU
- deleted 9y ago
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rrhd 9y ago
> Google advocates for things that are generally in the public interest No, they advocate 100% for things in Google's interest. If those happen to be good for the public that's a nice bonus. It's also a pretty awful bar that they don't bother with anti-trust unless the consumer harm is blatant. Thankfully that ship seems to be turning.

kogepathic 9y ago

> Google advocates for things that are generally in the public interest and does not abuse those position as many companies of their size do. Yes, they do that now. What about in the future? There's no guarantee that they won't start lobbying for things which entrench their monopoly and help their business while harming consumers. Just look at Google Fiber. At one point in time it seemed they might actually disrupt incumbent providers like Comcast, but they figured it wasn't in their interests and mothballed it.

Secretmapper 9y ago
Source on wasn't in their interests? I've only read that they couldn't continue it due to a: aggressive regulations by incumbers preventing entry of new ISPs (such as Fiber), b: most companies (like Comcast) miraculously offered fiber once Google Fiber was in the game, and c: they're focusing on wireless/balloon solutions. These are just what I read but I would love to hear if this was just PR and there was a sinister reason like you imply.
- rayiner 9y ago
  > I've only read that they couldn't continue it due to a: aggressive regulations by incumbers preventing entry of new ISPs (such as Fiber) The truth is the exact opposite. Google got very favorable treatment from fiber cities: https://techliberation.com/2012/08/07/what-google-fiber-says-about-tech-policy-fiber-rings-fit-deregulatory-hands https://techliberation.com/2012/08/07/what-google-fiber-says.... See also: http://crosscut.com/2014/12/google-fiber-never-come-seattle-broadband-internet-2 http://crosscut.com/2014/12/google-fiber-never-come-seattle-.... The difference between Mountain View and Kansas City isn’t that that Comcast has somehow managed to out-lobby Google in Google’s own back yard. That’s absurd.

PeachPlum 9y ago

11 Sep 2017 · Google today appealed the record €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion USD) antitrust fine levied against it by the EU

deleted 9y ago
[deleted]

rrhd 9y ago

> Google advocates for things that are generally in the public interest No, they advocate 100% for things in Google's interest. If those happen to be good for the public that's a nice bonus. It's also a pretty awful bar that they don't bother with anti-trust unless the consumer harm is blatant. Thankfully that ship seems to be turning.