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There are several things the EU can do. First of all, they can freeze and/or seize Google's assets in Europe. Like bank accounts and real estate. Or even more i

by kokx 9y ago

There are several things the EU can do. First of all, they can freeze and/or seize Google's assets in Europe. Like bank accounts and real estate. Or even more important to Google, all of their European datacenters. The EU can also disallow sales of Google's products, like any android phone. Or products like the chromecast, and don't forget Nest and Google Home. And selling ads in Europe from a foreign country isn't too easy either. It is a lot harder to do business with a company which is on the other side of the ocean, and officially doesn't have a precense in the same economic area. If Google leaves all of that behind in Europe, and is not really allowed to do business in Europe anymore, soon enough there will be a competitor that stands up and can do things better. Especially if they can actually open offices in Europe and do business without major hurdles.

csomar 9y ago
> There are several things the EU can do. First of all, they can freeze and/or seize Google's assets in Europe. Like bank accounts and real estate. Or even more important to Google, all of their European datacenters. > The EU can also disallow sales of Google's products, like any android phone. Or products like the chromecast, and don't forget Nest and Google Home. Without giving them plenty of time to pullout? This will probably trigger panic across of the multinationals.
- scholia 9y ago
  > Without giving them plenty of time to pullout? These things take a long time. Google was abusing its search monopoly before the EU started a seven-year investigation that resuled in a $2.7 billion fine ... which it is now appealing. Google settled with the US in 2013. It agreed to change some of its search practices and got away without a fine. I'd be surprised if Google didn't know it was abusing its search monopoly. I'd assume it calculated that it was more profitable to keep doing it until compelled to stop. Either way, a seven-year investigation provides plenty of time to prepare for exit strategies, if required, and it would grossly incompetent not to have prepared for them.

by kokx 9y ago

csomar 9y ago

> There are several things the EU can do. First of all, they can freeze and/or seize Google's assets in Europe. Like bank accounts and real estate. Or even more important to Google, all of their European datacenters. > The EU can also disallow sales of Google's products, like any android phone. Or products like the chromecast, and don't forget Nest and Google Home. Without giving them plenty of time to pullout? This will probably trigger panic across of the multinationals.

scholia 9y ago
> Without giving them plenty of time to pullout? These things take a long time. Google was abusing its search monopoly before the EU started a seven-year investigation that resuled in a $2.7 billion fine ... which it is now appealing. Google settled with the US in 2013. It agreed to change some of its search practices and got away without a fine. I'd be surprised if Google didn't know it was abusing its search monopoly. I'd assume it calculated that it was more profitable to keep doing it until compelled to stop. Either way, a seven-year investigation provides plenty of time to prepare for exit strategies, if required, and it would grossly incompetent not to have prepared for them.