3 ms·
>What would be a viable way for Google to fix this that doesn't hurt users? Assuming that any of Google's business practices needs to be "fixed" (a claim that'
by declan 11y ago
>What would be a viable way for Google to fix this that doesn't hurt users?
Assuming that any of Google's business practices needs to be "fixed" (a claim that's debatable and has been rejected by U.S. FedGov), you've put your finger on the difference between the U.S. and Euro regulatory approaches.
The European approach is more inclined to protect competitors that complain about a rival -- in this case Yelp, Microsoft, etc. are doing that. Note protecting competitors from rivals is not the same as protecting competition; in fact, having bureaucrats cripple some firms and favor others can reduce competition and injects politics and lobbying and who-golfs-with-the-commissioner into the process. It also can lead to bizarre results like the lack of a reasonably viable way to "fix" things.
The U.S. approach toward dominant firm behavior (well, since the 1970s) has been different. It focuses on intervening when there's consumer harm, or at least tries to. If consumers are not harmed, the logic goes, there is likely no reason for the Feds to intervene. This is why the FTC did not proceed with its case against Google. U.S. law also emphasizes economic analysis, which stands a better chance of grounding the analysis in marketplace reality.
A colleague and I wrote about the different EU vs. US antitrust approaches here: http://news.cnet.com/Intel-probe-highlights-EU-U.S.-regulation-tussle/2100-1028_3-5228930.html http://news.cnet.com/Intel-probe-highlights-EU-U.S.-regulati...
Note Microsoft enlisted U.S. politicians in its attempt to fend off broad EU antitrust actions; here's my article from 2004: http://news.cnet.com/U.S.-politicos-fire-at-EUs-Microsoft-ruling/2100-1012_3-5178914.html http://news.cnet.com/U.S.-politicos-fire-at-EUs-Microsoft-ru... Google doesn't seem to have the same depth of congressional outreach, especially among Rs predisposed to be skeptical of antitrust actions.
- ocdtrekkie 11y agoThe US's view of Google is inadmissible. Several high positioned White House staff members in tech positions are Googlers, and Google has a massive amount of cash invested in the US Congress as well. Google is at the White House for meetings on a weekly basis. The US Congress' letter to the EU Parliament asking them not to break up Google: Entirely signed by representatives paid by Google.
- ryanlol 11y agoI also heard that google is testing out mind control using chemtrails.
- ocdtrekkie 11y agoAre you suggesting that all of this is not publicly documented? The White House has hired multiple high-ranking Google employees in the last two years, and the campaign contributions made by Google to the Congressional representatives lobbying for them are all of public record.
- ryanlol 11y agohttp://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en//publicpolicy/doc/netpac-contributions-to-us-federal-candidates.pdf http://static.googleusercontent.com/media/www.google.com/en/... So, google is buying congress reps by donating them pocket change?
- ocdtrekkie 11y agohttp://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2014&id=D000022008 http://www.opensecrets.org/orgs/recips.php?cycle=2014&id=D00...
- declan 11y ago> campaign contributions made by Google to the Congressional representatives... Sigh. It is illegal for Google, like any other company, U.S. or foreign, to donate even $0.01 to any "congressional representative" (by that I take it you mean candidate for federal office or a current federal office-holder). Google has never done so, and nobody, except you, has ever accused the company of doing so. Not only is this a slur, is the FUD equivalent of chemtrails, and it has no place on HN. Source: "The law also prohibits contributions from corporations and labor unions. This prohibition applies to any incorporated organization, profit or nonprofit." http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/citizens.shtml#prohibited http://www.fec.gov/pages/brochures/citizens.shtml#prohibited