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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: 0.48s | source
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jjani ◴[05 Sep 25 18:17 UTC] No.45141781[source]▶
Going to pre-empt the comments that always pop up in these topics saying "Google/Meta/Apple will just leave the EU at this rate": Google still has around $20 billion yearly reasons to remain active in the EU. Talking Europe yearly net profit here, post-fine. No, they're not going to say "screw this fine, you can take your $20 billion per year, we're leaving!". The second that happens, shareholders will have Sundar's access revoked within the hour.

There is a number of countries where Google has to deal with large levels of protectionist barriers (not the EU, these fines aren't that) and they still operate there. Korea is just one example. Because there's still a lot of money to be made. China isn't a counterexample: Google stopped operating search in China because at that point there was not a lot of money to be made for them in search there.

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pendenthistory ◴[05 Sep 25 19:19 UTC] No.45142511[source]▶
No, they will not leave the EU because the EU is not reading the room right now. You think Trump will do nothing to protect FAANG? To be honest, despite being European, I'm surprised the US has let itself be pushed around for so long. I don't say I agree with it, it's just realpolitik.
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1. jjani ◴[06 Sep 25 05:19 UTC] No.45146815[source]▶
Being made to follow laws is being pushed around?

If Trump makes Google not pay the fine you think that will have no negative side-effects? His actions have been incredibly positive for European tech companies, 5 years ago the only ones that even considered not going for the US options were a few companies in Germany. Demand has skyrocketed and making Google not pay this would give it a huge boost.

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2. pjmlp ◴[06 Sep 25 06:32 UTC] No.45147122[source]▶
It is hard to understand in a country where big corp corruption for political parties is considered normal, and even gets prime time with gift ceremonies, and dinners.
3. pendenthistory ◴[06 Sep 25 07:09 UTC] No.45147258[source]▶
Laws that the EU passed in order to fine big tech one could argue. Just saying, you think Trump (and later Vance) will stand idly by? EU is a shell of its former self economically, there's not much we can do besides cozying up to an actual dictatorship (China) who literally shot thousands of students, turned them into pulp using tanks and flushed them down the drain. I know we all hate Trump, but the US is the better ally here still.