Google Monopoly
The pressure on Google from regulators and lawmakers rose today as it emerged several American States have begun anti-trust investigations into the internet search giant. Attorneys-general in New York, Ohio and California have begun probes into whether Google’s dominance in the search market is problematic. The suggestion that Google skews search finding to drive internet traffic to its own service such as Google Maps and YouTube and therefore away from rivals.
The State of Texas was already working on a similar inquiry. The FTC investigation seems to be centred on the same issue, as is a European Commission probe. Today’s probes emerged a day after the Wall Street Journal claimed the Federal Trade Commission, a powerful consumer watchdog founded by the US government, will issue subpoenas against the company in the next few days.
Google declined to comment on the investigations, its usual stance on such matters. Industry watchers say the rising number of complaints and increasing concern about Google’s position almost exactly echo that attach that Microsoft that began 10 years ago.
That ended in the firm conclusion that Microsoft operated as a monopoly and led to a settlement with the government.
by Simon English
