50 US States launch Google competition probe

[Milchan]

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System: The following 6 messages were cut out of thread at: https://www.webmasterworld.com/google/4962430.htm [webmasterworld.com] by robert_charlton - 9:51 pm on Sep 9, 2019 (PDT -8)

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Interesting turn of events ..... "A group of 50 states and territories in the US have launched an investigation into Google's dominance of the online advertising market." [bbc.com ]

[samwest]

@milchan- I'd give your post 10 likes if I could. Anyone catch Dr Epstien on LL&L a few days ago? Kinda confirms what we've all been squawking about the past 10 years

Dr. Robert Epstein on 'Life, Liberty & Levin'

[video.foxnews.com...]

[Milchan]

@samwest - it is kind of obvious that there is bias in the search results across huge amounts of searches. An obvious question also is why do they even need to have "suggested" searches anyway? A search engine should present results for you to decide and not try to nudge you in a particular direction.

[glakes]

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System: The following 2 messages were spliced on to this thread from: https://www.webmasterworld.com/goog/4963556.htm [webmasterworld.com] by engine - 9:25 am on Sep 10, 2019 (utc +1)

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Attorneys general for 50 U.S. states and territories on Monday officially announced an antitrust investigation of Google, embarking on a wide-ranging review of a tech giant that Democrats and Republicans said may threaten competition, consumers and the continued growth of the web.

Appearing on the steps of the Supreme Court, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton charged that Google “dominates all aspects of advertising on the Internet and searching on the Internet,” though he cautioned that despite his criticism the states had launched an investigation for now and not a lawsuit.

See: [msn.com...]

[MrSavage]

The worst thing these collective clowns can do is to include Facebook. As if they have the brains and resources to look beyond Google. If they put Google and Facebook on equal grounds then I'll call this a farce right from the get-go. If they can divide up resources then they really don't understand the scope of Google and the online world.

[glakes]

The worst thing these collective clowns can do is to include Facebook.

Look at the bright side. These states joining together to go after big tech is confirmation they believe the FTC and DOJ dropped the ball. Obama neutered these agencies likely because of his close ties to Eric Schmidt who sat with Obama on the night he was re-elected.

My company will be drafting a letter to send to all AGs in regards to how Amazon steers product reviews along with other anti-competitive acts. Between opioid, Facebook, Google and hopefully Amazon settlements, states will be well funded for a year or two. And make no mistake, these states are doing it for the dollars...

[samwest]

Lets not forget when this manipulation really started to take effect, at the Mayday update in 2010, just enough time after the 2008 election. Coincidence? It would be a great focal point for any investigation.

[glakes]

Lets not forget when this manipulation really started to take effect, at the Mayday update in 2010, just enough time after the 2008 election.

Manipulation, including all the pieces to the puzzle Google now uses to keep visitors inside Google owned properties, has been going on long before 2010. I remember when Vimeo videos were in Google's SERPS then they quietly disappeared shortly after Google acquired YouTube in 2006. In the year prior I believe they purchased Android as well.

[Rndm]

So, a few fines? IDK what they can accomplish outside of that.

[JesterMagic]

@Milchan "Suggested Searches" or "Searches related to …" themselves are not a bad idea as there have been a few times where I wasn't quit sure what keywords to search for something (ie what is that thing called hanging off the widget).

But they don't need to be listed above actual search results (ideally maybe just a link to a page of suggested searches). What I hate is that stupid merry-go-round widget "People also ask" that appears above/in the results that always answers questions incorrectly while trying to keep people on Google instead of the sites that offer the info.

[MrSavage]

Around Panda is when the company changed. That was about the time they said enough freebies, it's time we stop sending so much revenue out and keep it in-house instead. That was the slide point.

Facebook was never about the data collection. People are typing in people's names! Facebook hasn't been a place where people go to seek information. The friends of Google will try to make the scope of this to include Facebook and Twitter and that's a HUGE mistake. It would only reinforce my belief that these clowns don't understand the resources required to really investigate Google. You wouldn't have time to put resources into investigating other companies at the same time because then you won't be as thorough with Google. Maybe that's what they want. Skim the surface. Spread out their paltry resources and ultimately waste time on far less threatening companies. Leave the others for later!

[tangor]

@MrSavage ... the pols have been pricked ... poked with a stick by big tech ... and these investigations will not only happen, they will snowball. Be assured that when governments get hurt by "anti-trust" (competition) there will be significant push back ... Standard Oil learned that, then railroads, then Bell, then MS ... this will happen. Big as G might be, it is not anywhere the scope of the major governments on the planet.

Additionally, g's "friends in high places" and "ex-g in bureaucracy" have been and are continuing to be exposed. These investigations will continue, no matter who wins the US 2020 political year because BOTH sides have recognized that g, in particular, and big tech in general, have over-reached and can have outsized influence and exert oppressive tactics.

But, as with all things gubermint (sic) ... these things will take time. Dismantling the elephant by committee takes as much time as building the elephant in the first place.