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EU vote to break Google up

sparkeh

By sparkeh
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sparkeh

sparkeh

Posted
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interesting but can't see how it'd be done. Wonder how it could effect schools that use google apps for edu

That's where my mind went but can't see that this will happen.

sted

sted

Posted
Posted
how can the eu affect a us company surely they have no jurisdiction over them so they can say whatever they want and google can just ignore it or just close european offices costing jobs
sonofsanta

sonofsanta

Posted
Posted

If other companies are upset about how much market share Google has, how about they try and develop products and services that are as good as Google. I mean, c'mon, does anyone here ever willingly use a search engine other than Google? Anytime I accidentally Bing* I end up unable to find what I want, go to Google, get my answer in the top result.

 

It was a different issue when it was MS using their Windows monopoly to push IE, which was inferior to a lot of solutions out there; Google's only advantage is that they're just bloody better.

 

*I always wash myself afterwards, don't worry.

localzuk

localzuk

Posted
Posted
Just posturing. The EU simply has no jurisdiction over the US company. They can make life difficult for the local arms of Google, but they also have to remember that they have to comply with WTO rules, and any treaty agreements that are in place. So, it is highly unlikely anything will come of it.
Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted

Microsoft were forced to introduce the browser selection screen, as apparently everyone was using Internet Explorer. I believe Internet Explorer's share has dropped, but not considerably. It's still the number one browser used globally, with Mozilla Firefox and Chrome hot on its heels.

 

As to why politicians think breaking up Google will resolve the problem? It's called 'not having a clue what they're talking about'.

 

Although Google was formed in the US, there is in fact a Google EU as it were and their HQ is registered in Luxembourg. Why you may ask? It's because they have a more favourable tax and VAT system, unlike the UK for example - so technically the EU politicians can have a say, but only on Google Europe, not its parent Google US.

 

What gets me is every major company are at it, selling different services. If you have an iPhone, Apple expect you to buy music from iTunes and make it 'not so straight forward' to import music from other sources.

 

If you buy a PS4, you can only buy games from Sony online or from a retailer, all selling everything at RRP. And the same goes for Microsoft and its XBOX.

 

I'm not quite sure why they're gunning for Google? No other company has manage to develop a search engine and its associated services as well as Google. The only major well known ones are Bing and Yahoo that have any credibility.

Garacesh

Garacesh

Posted
Posted
Microsoft were forced to introduce the browser selection screen, as apparently everyone was using Internet Explorer. I believe Internet Explorer's share has dropped, but not considerably. It's still the number one browser used globally, with Mozilla Firefox and Chrome hot on its heels.

I never understood the point of that, truth be told I actually disagree with having to do that.

 

Microsoft make the Windows Operating System. Microsoft make the Internet Explorer web browser. IE coming packaged with Windows was not only acceptable, it was essential (as without a web browser it's pretty difficult to get hold of one.).. The way I see it, Microsoft bulking in IE by default is basically Microsoft saying "We guarantee compatibility and support with this product. We made them both, we've spent time making sure they work together in harmony.", just like Android coming with Chrome and Mac with Safari. I do not see this as anti-competition. Anti-competition would be them blocking the installation of other web browsers.

 

Google promote their own products. All companies promote their own products! and this is the same, it's Google saying "We've spent a metric butt-tonne of time on this and we guarantee the service works.".. The moment they artificially inflate their own search ranking (or deflate others) is when it becomes an issue, but I haven't seen any proof they've been doing that, just speculation.

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sonofsanta

sonofsanta

Posted
Posted

Surely, though, surely the daftest complaint of all of them in that article is

The exclusivity Google has to sell advertising around the search terms people use

 

"Google gets to control the advertising space on Google! That's not fair! Microsoft should be allowed to sell the ad-space on their competitor's web page!"

LeMarchand

LeMarchand

Posted
Posted
*I always wash myself afterwards, don't worry.

 

I should hope so, given that certain "niche" search Bing is allegedly good for.

 

I never understood the point of that, truth be told I actually disagree with having to do that.

 

Microsoft make the Windows Operating System. Microsoft make the Internet Explorer web browser. IE coming packaged with Windows was not only acceptable, it was essential (as without a web browser it's pretty difficult to get hold of one.).. The way I see it, Microsoft bulking in IE by default is basically Microsoft saying "We guarantee compatibility and support with this product. We made them both, we've spent time making sure they work together in harmony.", just like Android coming with Chrome and Mac with Safari. I do not see this as anti-competition. Anti-competition would be them blocking the installation of other web browsers.

 

I've never understood that either, and suspect that any change in browser usage is down to the all-conquering power of Google rather than the annoying Browser Choice screen.

 

As for "breaking up Google", I suspect posturing to throw people off the scent that they're all signing up to TTIP as fast as they can.

Michael

Michael

Posted
Posted

By that methodology, the EU maybe want a separate/individual Ad company who will then display the Ads on Google's Search results or any Search engine results? This really isn't going to work now is it.

 

I do question how many of these EU politicians could be classified as 'technical' experts? A lot of these problems are because there's a huge mis-understanding how the internet and services on the internet actually work. Granted as with medical issues, there's a team of real medical experts/advisers, but the politicians themselves still need some basic understanding how technologies such as the internet actually work.

 

Google probably could very easily move all of its Ad side of the business back to the US, so nothing's physically hosted in Europe, yet still offer Ad services. The EU politicians would be stuffed then, with no leg to stand on.

Andrew_C

Andrew_C

Posted
Posted

Big monopolies have been broken up before. Standard Oil is one that comes to mind. OK, all internal USA, but they were HUGE!

 

If they want to do it, they'd better pull their fingers out before

gets foisted on us.
Garacesh

Garacesh

Posted
Posted
Cmon, dont leave us hanging.... :p

 

So the story goes, Bing is well known in the interweb circles for filtering out less content of an adult nature. Apparently Google filters out those kinds of results to be more family friendly or something (despite having SafeSearch).

Source: Reddit comments. So don't take it as Gospel.

 

I say 'so the story goes' as I never use Bing. Even if I accidentally use Bing, I don't even look at the results, I just head to Google and search again.

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