The Alphabet Google Thing: The Russia Glitch
August 15, 2016
I know that Alphabet Google is the darling of the Sillycon Valley set. I noted the allegedly accurate factoids in “Russia Fines Google $6.75 Million for Android Antitrust Violations.” No alleged I assume.
Alphabet Google, according to the write up:
…The country’s [Russia’s] Federation Anti-monopoly Service (FAS) said that Google forced mobile phone manufacturers to include Google search on the home screen of all Android devices and bundling other services with Google Play, while preventing manufacturers from pre-installing competing services. The case was opened in February 2014, when one of those rivals, Yandex, filed an official complaint against Google. Last year, the authorities decided that it had broken Russian competition law. The ruling was upheld again in March, when Google lost an appeal.
What’s interesting is that Google has a never-say-nyea attitude. I learned:
While Russia’s fine against Google is tiny, an order from the FAS demanding that the ad giant change the restrictions it places on device makers in the country could prove to be more damaging. Google is appealing against the order, with a hearing scheduled for August 16.
Does anyone care about Alphabet Google’s travails in Russia? One person. Margrethe Verstager, the EC’s competition commissioner. Just eight years ago, a Googler was supposed to hitch a ride on Russia’s Soyuz flight to the International Space Station. Since then, Russia seems to be taking a more critical look at the search advertising giant.
Stephen E Arnold, August 15, 2016
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