←back to thread

European Commission fines Google €2.95B over abusive ad tech practices

(ec.europa.eu)
398 points ChrisArchitect | 3 comments | 05 Sep 25 16:52 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
Workaccount2 ◴[05 Sep 25 19:50 UTC] No.45142862[source]▶
Wouldn't it be something if the EU focused on fostering a tech scene rather than attacking it. This is like the 4th time they have gone to the Google bank demanding a $1B+ ransom.

And before we "Just don't break the laws" take note of the fact the the EU has a dead tech scene. I don't know how they expect competition to grow when they block all the sunlight in their tech fields.

If you don't want Google dominating your populations technology, try creating conditions to grow a replacement.

replies(12): >>45142946 #>>45142951 #>>45143254 #>>45143332 #>>45143429 #>>45143504 #>>45143714 #>>45143974 #>>45144022 #>>45146519 #>>45149030 #>>45151815 #
StopDisinfo910 ◴[05 Sep 25 19:59 UTC] No.45142946[source]▶
That’s a complete red herring.

This is not Europe racketing Google. Google is losing the same kind of trial everywhere in the world including the US for one simple reason: they are actually using anticompetitive practices in the ad tech market.

Honestly the most likely to benefit from this verdict are other American companies. You are welcome for us doing the enforcement your country refuses to do.

replies(1): >>45143621 #
1. dmix ◴[05 Sep 25 21:06 UTC] No.45143621[source]▶
Almost all the most famous anti-trust cases in America like against Microsoft

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Cor...

were not about monetary fines, they are first and foremost about changing practices (behavioural remedies). Microsoft didn't even pay any money, they had to change how they operated their business in the US.

Likewise with both the recent antitrust trials in the US against Google: In one government prosecutors wanted them to sell off Chrome, the other they are trying to break Google Ads monopoly by breaking it up.

This is not a system extracting billions of the dollar for the 4th time in a couple years. Especially as others have mentioned that this commission is also the one inventing the rules, so it can keep doing it indefinitely for new reasons.

replies(2): >>45144010 #>>45149083 #
2. alkonaut ◴[05 Sep 25 21:45 UTC] No.45144010[source]▶
> Microsoft didn't even pay any money, they had to change how they operated their business in the US.

They had to do that, or else what? Some form of cruel and unusual punishment that doesn’t involve fines?

Isn’t this process about compliance with laws too? They have had time to follow the laws but chosen not to.

3. daurentius523 ◴[06 Sep 25 13:25 UTC] No.45149083[source]▶
EU cannot force US company to dissolve or sell parts (it would be meaningless) - it can only fine it until it will have to sell parts.

If US did exercise it's antitrust laws we wouldn't be here.