Bloomberg Posts
Roundup of Comments on Google’s Proposed Commitments to European Commission
Thursday, April 25th, 2013
The European Commission today announced Google’s proposed commitments to settle allegations that it is abusing its dominance by giving preferential treatment to its own services in display and ranking of search results. Google proposal to label where it promotes its own products above generic search results and offer links to “three rival specialised search services Read more »
FTC Chairwoman: Google’s Voluntary Agreement Not Precedent; Search Bias Pro-competitive Though It Harms Competitors
Thursday, April 18th, 2013
Many were disappointed with the Federal Trade Commission’s and Google’s unprecedented voluntary agreement in January on advertising data and the “scraping” or excerpting of content from sites like Yelp. Now, it seems, the chairwoman of the FTC is apparently dismissing the agreement as a one-time deal that other companies should not expect. Additionally, the newly Read more »
Does Google Harm Consumers? Bloomberg Editors Say ‘Yes’
Thursday, January 3rd, 2013
Today the Federal Trade Commission issued the disappointing decision to pass on compelling Google to end its anti-competitive search manipulation practices that favor the prominent display of its own products. Rather, the FTC and Google agreed for the search giant to end other anti-competitive practices, largely through a voluntary agreement that lacks the kind of Read more »
Top Global Outlets Weigh in on Almunia’s Announcement; Google Dismisses Concerns
Monday, May 21st, 2012
Joaquín Almunia, Vice President of the European Commission responsible for Competition Policy, announced today that his committee has concluded the initial investigation into Google’s anticompetitive practices. Google has a matter of weeks to respond with workable remedies that address the Commission’s concerns and preserve competition. In a speech in Brussels today, Almunia outlined the four Read more »
Expedia, TripAdvisor File Complaints with European Commission, European Voices Offer Support
Tuesday, April 3rd, 2012
Today, Bloomberg News reported that TripAdvisor filed a complaint with the European Commission detailing “anti-competitive and unfair practices by Google that harm the marketplace and consumer welfare,” the online travel company said. On Friday, Reuters reported that Expedia filed a complaint last week with the European Commission that “offers evidence of how Google’s conduct harms Read more »
Bloomberg: FTC Expands Antitrust Investigation to Include Google+
Friday, January 13th, 2012
The Federal Trade Commission has expanded its antitrust investigation of Google’s business and search practices to look into Google+, Bloomberg reports this afternoon. According to two people familiar with the situation: “The competition issues raised by Google+ go to the heart of the FTC’s investigation into whether the company is giving preference to its own Read more »
FTC investigation expands to Android, Mississippi joins state antitrust probe
Thursday, October 27th, 2011
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is focusing on whether Google is “is pressuring handset makers to pre-load phones with Google applications,” the New York Post reports. Meanwhile, Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood (D) has issued a civil investigative demand – a form of subpoena used in antitrust investigations – to Google, Bloomberg reports. Hood’s investigation Read more »
The Power of Google: What Experts and Reporters Are Saying About the Hearing
Friday, September 23rd, 2011
At Wednesday’s Senate Antitrust Subcommittee hearing, Google’s Chairman Eric Schmidt, faced tough questions from lawmakers about whether his company is abusing its dominance in the online search market to harm competition. Here is a round-up of some of the coverage of the hearing: “Senators grill Google over competition issues” –Minneapolis Star Tribune, 9/21/11 “Is Google Read more »
Bloomberg: FTC Investigation of Google Could Take Years
Thursday, June 2nd, 2011
According to Bloomberg, Google “may be forced to spend years defending itself” in an FTC investigation. The focus of the investigation? According to the article, which quotes current and former FTC officials, the agency may look at: “Whether Google is using its position in Internet search to subdue rivals in adjacent markets with threats and Read more »
Oklahoma AG Considers Google Probe; Cites Concern for Consumers and Competition
Friday, May 20th, 2011
According to Bloomberg, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt is considering a probe of Google’s search dominance and its effect on consumers and competition. Specifically, Pruitt highlighted concern over Google’s “practices and dominance of Internet searches as well as their treatment and placement of proprietary content from other websites” in search results. But it’s not just Read more »
