Google Fined $5 Billion by EU

[Perknose]

Google hit with record fine for abusing market dominance

Google has been hit with a record €4.34bn (£3.8bn) fine by the European Union for abusing its market dominance in mobile phone operating systems.

The EU imposed the multibillion-euro penalty after finding that the US tech firm required smartphone manufacturers to pre-instal Google’s search and browser apps devices using its Android operating system, otherwise they would not be allowed to use its Google Play online store and streaming service.

If you don't think this is true . . . just Google it!

 

[Starbuck1975]

Don’t be evil

 

[glenn1]

So we're back to the silly thinking of decades ago where browsers were the be-all end-all for technology and Microsoft would take over the planet by including Internet Explorer with Windows? I'm pretty sure most consumers who would want to access Google Play would have zero problems with installing Chrome as well and probably start off with the expectation their phone would have it before accessing the Play store.

 

[realibrad]

This will keep snowballing. Why should AT&T get to pre-install software for its services? Why does Ford get to install an air filter instead of letting the customer do it?

This is stupid. The EU wants two things, money and a way to give Trump the finger.

 

[mdram]

if google got hit with 5bill, apple should be good for 50bill


but seriously, google should just shut down all android os, and google services in europe.

 

[Blackjack200]

but seriously, google should just shut down all android os, and google services in europe.

So you recognize the market power that google has by suggesting that they can hurt “europe” by shutting down their services.

I’m sure “europe” agrees, and that’s why they’re acting to limit that power.

 

[realibrad]

So you recognize the market power that google has by suggesting that they can hurt “europe” by shutting down their services.

I’m sure “europe” agrees, and that’s why they’re acting to limit that power.

BS. If they were trying to limit their power, they would do something bout their power. This fine does not do that.

PornH has a lot of power too, should we try and promote other porn sites over them?

 

[Blackjack200]

BS. If they were trying to limit their power, they would do something bout their power. This fine does not do that.

Okay dude.

PornH has a lot of power too, should we try and promote other porn sites over them?

From what I’ve heard PornH absolutely has too much control over the porn industry, they’ve depressed the revenues going to producers and performers.

 

[realibrad]

Okay dude.



From what I’ve heard PornH absolutely has too much control over the porn industry, they’ve depressed the revenues going to producers and performers.

Jesus.

 

[Greenman]

Jesus.

I don't think he did porn.

 

[Perknose]

I don't think he did porn.

Shame, really. He demonstrated a remarkable ability to rise again.

But, yeah, Jerusalem in those days was very Old Testament* about sex for pleasure. JC would have been crucified for doing porn.










*Fun fact: In those days, they just called it The Testament, of course.

 

[Hayabusa Rider]

It's just trump change to Google.

 

[realibrad]

Shame, really. He demonstrated a remarkable ability to rise again.

But, yeah, Jerusalem in those days was very Old Testament* about sex for pleasure. JC would have been crucified for doing porn.










*Fun fact: In those days, they just called it The Testament, of course.

I liked this post 19min after it was posted, and I was the first. I am disappointed that nobody liked this joke sooner, and fully expect more people to like this post.

 

[Zorba]

So we're back to the silly thinking of decades ago where browsers were the be-all end-all for technology and Microsoft would take over the planet by including Internet Explorer with Windows? I'm pretty sure most consumers who would want to access Google Play would have zero problems with installing Chrome as well and probably start off with the expectation their phone would have it before accessing the Play store.

So you have no problem with a monopoly using it's monopoly power to create another monopoly? This is pretty much exactly what Standard Oil did.

 

[mdram]

So you recognize the market power that google has by suggesting that they can hurt “europe” by shutting down their services.

I’m sure “europe” agrees, and that’s why they’re acting to limit that power.

no diff than microsoft with a pc
or apple with the mac/iphone/ect

no one is forcing phone companies to use android. or forcing people to use chrome.

all pcs/phones/ect come with preinstalled apps, you can use them or not.

 

[Perknose]

I liked this post 19min after it was posted, and I was the first. I am disappointed that nobody liked this joke sooner, and fully expect more people to like this post.

 

[Greenman]

Shame, really. He demonstrated a remarkable ability to rise again.

But, yeah, Jerusalem in those days was very Old Testament* about sex for pleasure. JC would have been crucified for doing porn.










*Fun fact: In those days, they just called it The Testament, of course.

But it took him 3 days. That Rahab must of really had it going on.

 

[realibrad]

Back on topic, (do please continue with Jesus dick jokes though) this is how the government can justify control of the market. Eventually, you are going to see the EU trying to direct people to things they want people to use, and away from the things they do not.

Pepsi is really the better cola, but, it does not have the market share we think it should because of the actions taken by Coke, so we are going to fine Coke so Pepsi becomes more popular.

 

[Commodus]

Back on topic, (do please continue with Jesus dick jokes though) this is how the government can justify control of the market. Eventually, you are going to see the EU trying to direct people to things they want people to use, and away from the things they do not.

Pepsi is really the better cola, but, it does not have the market share we think it should because of the actions taken by Coke, so we are going to fine Coke so Pepsi becomes more popular.

That's a slippery slope argument, not really what the EU wants.

The broader issue is that Google, for all its talk of openness and freedom, tends to strong-arm vendors. Want Play Store access? Then you have to include a prominent Google search bar and every standard Google app, making them the default. It's either all or nothing -- you can't, say, include just Gmail or make Firefox the default.

This isn't to give the EU a free pass, and it does get heavy-handed at times. However, this is not happening because the EU thinks Mozilla or Opera should have more share -- it's that they shouldn't be held back through artificial means. If Google still has a dominant level of browser share through an open market, that's fine.

 

[Atreus21]

So you recognize the market power that google has by suggesting that they can hurt “europe” by shutting down their services.

I’m sure “europe” agrees, and that’s why they’re acting to limit that power.

How did Google acquire their market power if not by providing services that people were willing to buy?

 

[realibrad]

That's a slippery slope argument, not really what the EU wants.

The broader issue is that Google, for all its talk of openness and freedom, tends to strong-arm vendors. Want Play Store access? Then you have to include a prominent Google search bar and every standard Google app, making them the default. It's either all or nothing -- you can't, say, include just Gmail or make Firefox the default.

This isn't to give the EU a free pass, and it does get heavy-handed at times. However, this is not happening because the EU thinks Mozilla or Opera should have more share -- it's that they shouldn't be held back through artificial means. If Google still has a dominant level of browser share through an open market, that's fine.

What do you mean add a search bar to apps?

Also, you can change the default browser on android.

As for holding back the companies, that does not make sense either. Android was created by Google and now other companies can make apps for that platform. Google does not block other browsers, and its pretty easy to add others.

What the EU does not like is that Google by default only has their browser on Android. This is just like how M$ only had IE on windows until you went and downloaded another. It was stupid then, and is stupid now.

 

[mdram]

That's a slippery slope argument, not really what the EU wants.

The broader issue is that Google, for all its talk of openness and freedom, tends to strong-arm vendors. Want Play Store access? Then you have to include a prominent Google search bar and every standard Google app, making them the default. It's either all or nothing -- you can't, say, include just Gmail or make Firefox the default.

This isn't to give the EU a free pass, and it does get heavy-handed at times. However, this is not happening because the EU thinks Mozilla or Opera should have more share -- it's that they shouldn't be held back through artificial means. If Google still has a dominant level of browser share through an open market, that's fine.

i have never used chrome on any android platform.
i also dont see a google search bar that cant be removed

 

[Blackjack200]

How did Google acquire their market power if not by providing services that people were willing to buy?

That circular reasoning could be used to defend any monopoly. The question is whether the market power is harming consumers.

 

[mdram]

That circular reasoning could be used to defend any monopoly. The question is whether the market power is harming consumers.

please explain how google is a monopoly

 

[Blackjack200]

no diff than microsoft with a pc
or apple with the mac/iphone/ect

no one is forcing phone companies to use android. or forcing people to use chrome.

all pcs/phones/ect come with preinstalled apps, you can use them or not.

The definition of a monopoly is not "people are forced to use the product/service".