Why did the European Commission just accuse Google of being anti-competitive?

Communities Blog
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Introduction

For those unaware the European Commission has filed a complaint against Google over anti-competitive behaviour. Now why is this?

Here in Europe Google accounts for more than a 90% web searches. This was probably helped by the EU 'browser choice screen' which pushed a lot of people away from IE, and although annoying to some served it's purpose well although that isn't the point.

The search engine controls what people see on the internet, there's no bones about that. Sure they may not block anything by their own accord but their rankings can control the public's intake of information and with hundreds of millions of European Union citizens relying exclusively on Google to provide this it's very important that they do not abuse their position but they have been accused of becoming less competitive when they 'optimizing search' and have been attacked for hurting businesses within the EU and abroad.

So who made these complaints?

Well the first three were Microsoft, Tripadvisor, Streetmap and of course others since 2010.

Google Shopping Complaint

Well firstly we have 'Google Shopping' which is dominant in search results promoting Google's choice shopping links which according to the competition commissioner said amounted to an abuse of its dominance in search.

"I'm concerned that Google has artificially boosted its presence in the comparison shopping market with the result that consumers may not necessarily see what's most relevant for them, or that competitors may not get the the commercial opportunity that their innovative services deserve" -Ms Vestager

Favouring own Mapping, Hotels and Flight Services

Of course, it isn't just Google Shopping we are talking about here. Other complaints about Google favouring its own mapping, hotels and flights services.

Android Enquiry

The EU has also launched a separate investigation into Google's Android operating system, used by smartphones and tablets, which will focus on three topics:

  • Claims that Google requires or incentivises manufacturers to pre-install its own search engine, apps and other services and exclude rival products

  • Allegations that Google unfairly insists its services are bundled, meaning some cannot be pre-installed without including the others

  • Complaints that the firm is hindering manufacturers from developing alternative versions of Android, which is open source. These are commonly known as "forks", with Amazon's Fire OS and Xiaomi's Mi being two examples

In response, Google stressed that Android devices could be offered without its services.

Rivals Reactions

Many of Google's rivals welcomed the EU's action."Google's abuse of dominance distorts European markets, harms consumers, and makes it impossible for Google's rivals to compete on a level playing field," said lobbying group Icomp.
"We see this statement of objection as a crucial first step towards ensuring that European consumers have access to vibrant and competitive online markets."

An example of their 'anti competitive behaviour' on BBC News

https://youtu.be/7aDtLASg4H4?t=2m33s
As you can see, a search for 'Rihanna Music' gives you Youtube Music, Youtube, Google Play, Google News all before any organic results. Hell, you have to scroll half way down the page to find Rihanna's own website!

Other Punishments on Tech Giants

In recent years, the Commission has imposed antitrust penalties on other tech giants, ordering Intel to pay €1.1bn (£793m; $1.2bn) in 2009, and Microsoft €516m in 2013.

Investigations in India, Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan, Canada and United States

The EU's investigation is not the only one Google is facing.Investigators at India's Competition Commission delivered a report last week after carrying out a three-year probe into claims of unfair business
practices.

Their counterparts in Russia, Brazil, Argentina, Taiwan and Canada have also opened investigations.

However, the US Federal Trade Commission dropped its own probe at the start of 2013 after Google made several non-binding commitments.

BBC Article

The Competition Commissioner said that she was not seeking a wider redesign of Google's search results or asking it to change its algorithms and that she was "open" to Google's response, and would listen to its case before deciding how to proceed.

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Looks like Australia will take Google to task over taxation matters in our country; Joe Hockey has hinted that the next Aussie Budget to be released in May will contain legislative measures to curtail Google's fiscal avoidance.

It will be interesting to see what those details entail when the Aussie Budget is released in May.

Google is not cultivating good relationships in any country at present, either in Australia or the collective that is the EU.

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Same in the UK to curb use of tax havens (most of which are British Overseas Territories, ironically).

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Besides, you just know that any company that chooses the slogan "Don't be evil" has Satan, Cthulu and other elder gods at their board of directors. It's like sitting down to a game of poker and one of the other players suddenly burst out "I never cheat". Of course he fucking does!

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I, for one, welcome the future Google AI as my overlord and ruler

Seriously though, nice effort post.

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What originally started as Google's desire for maintaining global 'audience retention' has morphed into a disturbing form of 'arrogance' directed at the countries it operates in.

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It took them this long? Crikey. These people must be using blinkers to avoid seeing the Google dominance on the web. Heck, even in a Channel 9 video that I watched fairly recently, one of the speakers said "you can Google this on Bing" (which was questioned, to which the reply was that "Google" is also a verb).
I use Android and frequent YouTube, abhor Chrome, despise Google Docs, dislike Gmail and I use Bing (though this is partly as a protest to using Google). It's too engrossed and almost everything nowadays tries to install Chrome alongside whatever it is you're installing.

Google almost makes me want to oppose net neutrality (don't digress here) just to give it a hefty kicking.

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One of the most amazing aspects about Google, was that this company started with a $100,000 cheque, and since 1998, Google has experienced growth in the range of 115% annually.

In some respects, Google is doing better than most countries in regard to its economic worth.

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The way I see it is that google can do whatever they want to with their website. The EC can shove it, am not saying that google doesn't prioritize its own services, but if they were that bad people wouldn't use them given how easy it is to access other services on the web, which includes search engines.

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Weather you agree or disagree it's worth nothing that the European Commission and within their right to enforce regulations onto Google such as those mentioned above,

Google EU Sarl is a European company which must follow European regulations and rulings.

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It is not a question whether their service is good or bad, that is irrelevant entirely. They could come and clean your house, give the children icecream and give free blowjobs with each search and it still wouldn't make a difference.

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The 'corporate direction' that Google is setting a course for, is a modus operandi that 'over-rides' a nation's democratic processes (and processes that centre around 'transparency')

While Google came from 'modest' origins, this internet entity has become a menacing 'global ogre'.

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Fair enough....The EC is going to do whatever they want, I just think its an overreaction to call it anti-competitive given the fact that consumer choice in this particular market ( that being search engines) is completely free of coercion, unlike Microsoft in relation to internet explorer-which is a whole other set of issues.

The Android side has a bit more validity but once again the android operating system is google intellectual property that just happens to be both open source and free. That doesn't then forfeit googles right to put conditions on companies use of the os............ which it really doesn't.

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As the complaints from the OEMs said that Google "requires or incentivizes manufacturers to pre-install its own search engine, apps and other services and exclude rival products" and that they "unfairly insists its services are bundled, meaning some cannot be pre-installed without including the other". Probably the most worrying for the open-source spirit is the complaints that Google is "hindering manufacturers from developing alternative versions of Android". So I'd say they do.

While Google is within their right to do this at this time it isn't good for competition, limits OEM control and hurts consumer choice.

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I would really like to be a fly on the wall during those meetings where the Google rep strong arms them into doing what they want.

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Don't really got much of an opinion about google being anti-competitive as they are growing at a really fast rate compared to most companies and they are constantly adding services that they have to keep adjusting, also at a fast rate. Seems more to me like they get an idea and launch it to see what it will do most the time. I am however in favor of them clamping down hard on Android. I spend a lot of time staring at electronics when I'm bored and there still seems to be to many new devices coming out that are running Eclair or Gingerbread. Thats 5-7 generations old and fewer devs are porting back that far, Not to mention all the bloat they add. I can make a phone or tablet be an overheated stuttering paper weight on my own if I so choose, don't need samsung or anyone elses help in that area.

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Simply put. Much like how google curates youtube vids, they are also doing the same to search results and other people's adverts. Shock...............what a surprise !!!!!!!!! Well ? Not really! :)