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Being left-leaning is not cause for antitrust. Making your argument a false equivocation. Should Google be subject to antitrust trials? I would say yes, but not

by voxl 8y ago

Being left-leaning is not cause for antitrust. Making your argument a false equivocation. Should Google be subject to antitrust trials? I would say yes, but not because of a left or right leaning bias in their search results.

chrisco255 8y ago
I think it's their 90% dominant position over the search market, mobile, advertising, and online video that should be subject to antitrust trials... As for the left/right leaning bias, I think that's all part of the same banana. Their powerful position gives them the flexibility to lean whatever way they choose with few, if any, market repercussions.
- bobdole123456 8y ago
  Being the best in the market isn’t an antitrust issue. There isn’t any credible alternative to Google because they’re head and shoulders above everyone else. There are other search engines, they just don’t measure up.
  - obpacheco 8y ago
    its not just that google has a search engine, they also own youtube, which plays a huge role into how people are getting their news today, as people watch less and less television.
    - thrmsforbfast 8y ago
      bobdole123456's point is that monopolies aren't illegal but abuse of monopoly power is illegal (you're being downvoted because you do not explicitly address that fact). But I actually think you raise an extremely interesting question: does pushing a political agenda using your monopoly position constitute an abuse of monopoly power? The advent of privately controlled monopolistic forums is somewhat new. I don't think it's at all obvious how the spirit of anti-trust law should be extended in the age of platforms... We're in new territory.
bilbo0s 8y ago
>Being left-leaning is not cause for antitrust.... As horrible as this may sound, it is a cause for anti trust break up when those in power are right leaning. I mean, let's not split hairs here. As a matter of pragmatic reality, that's pretty much what it comes down to.

by voxl 8y ago

chrisco255 8y ago

I think it's their 90% dominant position over the search market, mobile, advertising, and online video that should be subject to antitrust trials... As for the left/right leaning bias, I think that's all part of the same banana. Their powerful position gives them the flexibility to lean whatever way they choose with few, if any, market repercussions.

bobdole123456 8y ago
Being the best in the market isn’t an antitrust issue. There isn’t any credible alternative to Google because they’re head and shoulders above everyone else. There are other search engines, they just don’t measure up.
- obpacheco 8y ago
  its not just that google has a search engine, they also own youtube, which plays a huge role into how people are getting their news today, as people watch less and less television.
  - thrmsforbfast 8y ago
    bobdole123456's point is that monopolies aren't illegal but abuse of monopoly power is illegal (you're being downvoted because you do not explicitly address that fact). But I actually think you raise an extremely interesting question: does pushing a political agenda using your monopoly position constitute an abuse of monopoly power? The advent of privately controlled monopolistic forums is somewhat new. I don't think it's at all obvious how the spirit of anti-trust law should be extended in the age of platforms... We're in new territory.

bilbo0s 8y ago

>Being left-leaning is not cause for antitrust.... As horrible as this may sound, it is a cause for anti trust break up when those in power are right leaning. I mean, let's not split hairs here. As a matter of pragmatic reality, that's pretty much what it comes down to.