Australia May Have a Good Idea
October 29, 2021
The Five Eyes may not be the same old friendly group. Nevertheless, each of the entities involved pay attention to what others do. Australia has taken a step which may give regulators in other group members’ countries a nifty new idea: Force Google to allow an Android user to install a different search system.
There you go. The ecosystem, not to mention, the Google ad game, would get a kick in the shin. “Australia Also Wants Google to Unbundle Search from Android” reports:
the ACCC wants Google to show a “choice screen” to Android users, allowing them to pick a default search engine other than Google Search. The commission also wants to limit Google’s ability to pay Apple and other vendors or platforms to be their default search engine.
Several observations:
- Chopping off data pumping components would be similar to slitting a vein, maybe not fatal but certainly a disruptor
- Other countries may find this approach one which sidesteps some of the yip yap served up in regulatory hearings
- Google will push back and the protestations will reveal exactly how quasi perpetual motion money machine works.
Google wants to be the Internet. Australia’s AMPing up of harsh requirements like losing a body part won’t be fatal. But if the search play works, what about other Google services. Gmail anyone?
Stephen E Arnold, October 29, 2021
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