Google and the EU: Bureaucracy Versus Clicks
July 2, 2020
The Google is providing a “free” Web search system. The European Union seems unwilling or unable to understand the logic of providing a “free” service.
“EU Throws New Rule Book at Google, Tech Giants in Competition Search” explains:
Driven in large part by a conclusion that multiple antitrust actions against Google have been ineffectual, the EU’s new strategy aims to lay down ground rules for data-sharing and how digital marketplaces operate.
What’s the EU going to do?
So as US antitrust enforcers prepare yet another possible case against Google, the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) could instead force big tech firms to offer smaller rivals access to data on reasonable, standardized and non-discriminatory terms.
Sounds good. The problem may be that Google — like other US technology centric monopolies — operate in a digital environment.
Regulatory authorities operate in a bureaucratic environment. Like the Great Firewall of China, digital information seeps through barriers.
Maybe the regulators should consider other options? Meetings, fines, and white papers are ideal complements to levying fines which appear to have minimal impact.
Like advertisers boycotting Facebook, the digital monopolies continue to accrue clicks and revenue.
After two decades of consistent digital behavior, regulatory methods seem to be consistently ineffective.
Stephen E Arnold, July 2, 2020
Comments
-
- Subscribe to Beyond Search
Feature archive
News archive
-
