The Antitrust Showdown - U.S. Government v. Google, Facebook, Apple, Amazon, et al.

[moonbat]

Not unless they also address Google's domination of WHATWG/W3C. Else they may just end up focusing on the advertising business and how Chrome ties into it. Hope Moonchild's inputs get the attention they need.

[Tharthan]

All of the recent threads on this subject have been merged into the original one that already existed.

...

It appears that the wheels are beginning to turn in what will hopefully be a productive and eventful saga.

[Moonchild]

Of note, I just received word from my contact at the DoJ that the gears are indeed in motion and a civil suit has now been filed:

As of a few hours ago, the Department of Justice filed a civil law enforcement action against Google related to its online search services. For more about the lawsuit, you can see read the Department’s press release here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice- ... trust-laws. The end of the press release links to the court complaint that we filed to begin the action. It’s available here: https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-relea ... 1/download.

[gi_jimbo]

Great! Let's hope it moves forward quickly.

[Moonchild]

To remedy these illegal acts, Plaintiffs request that the Court:
...
d. Enter any other preliminary or permanent relief necessary and appropriate
to restore competitive conditions in the markets affected by Google’s
unlawful conduct;

That is a very far-reaching statement. I hope it comes through.

[moonbat]

But does it ever address their stranglehold over web standards? Sounds like previous attempts that only focused on their search and advertising.

[gi_jimbo]

Yeah, I think "search" is the thing most Americans are familiar with so that's why it is getting all the traction. In my opinion, web standards are are a much bigger issue that needs to be addressed. Hopefully in their further pursuits, the web standards get addressed.

[Moonchild]

Well it's not like I haven't given them all the information needed for addressing it.
The most obvious targets are going to be addressed first.

[gi_jimbo]

I also read the statements from AG Barr and Rosen. It sounds like they're properly focused on the whole issue rather than just search and ad monopoly. If your consultation is taken as seriously as it should be then it certainly provides some hope for the future.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

Barr needs replaced as he is simply too much of a coward to do his job.. I think like Sessions he is too ingrained with the status quo and has been threatened.

Rosen is simply a tratior to the republic.

[Tharthan]

...Let's keep the national politics talk here to a bare minimum, folks.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

This IS as much of a political issue as it is a legal one because of the scope of what Google and others have done with their monopoly power, irritant.

[Tharthan]

It's one thing to say that this or that administration may be tougher/softer on Google, or that this might get bogged down due to politics.

It's quite another to potentially stoke an unwanted off-topic discussion in the middle of this thread about particular national political figures.

I'd hate to see this thread turn into another of those threads.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

I'd hate to see you become too scared to deal with the reality of reality because it is more than misinterpreted factually incorrect generalities that require precision to actually be accurate or properly applicable to the situation.

tl;dr I will tear your soul apart if I am restricted from being specific.

[athenian200]

Well, honestly I'm worried that Google will get off the hook again somehow. I know that the language in the complaint sounds strong, but Google seems to be like Teflon when it comes to these lawsuits. Nothing ever sticks to them, and in the end they just eat the fines. Unless something structural is done to Google like breaking them up or at least banning them from participating in the browser space in any way, I don't see how anything will change.

[New Tobin Paradigm]

I don't see how this will stop them unless they stop their cartel bullshit too by going after microsoft, apple, and give the reds at Mozilla a good talking to.

[Tharthan]

The way that I look at it, it's best not to look a gift horse in the mouth.

They may start with Google, and then pursue others if they deem it likely to succeed.

But even if they only manage to do something about Google, that's at the very least a step in the right direction.

[adesh]

Off-topic:

But even if they only manage to do something about Google, that's at the very least a step in the right direction.

Do something about people too! I've seen too many "good and intelligent" people cry circumstances for their choices when they themselves are partaking in the giant evil movement responsible for those conditions. You aren't good if you side with the evil, if you do business with evil.

[Baloo]

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/202 ... -suit.html

For anyone who wants to read the full document. I think it is very readable even for non-lawyers. Talks a lot about the issues we have been complaining about at Google for years. They've engaged in effective pay to play with Android hardware manufacturers and other companies to keep Google as the default search engine for years. The fact that the DOJ went out of its way to explain how expensive search engines are and go into some complex tech workings I think shows that they did their homework. Here's to hoping.

[Moonchild]

For the record, the case is moving forward as the parties are now providing each other with initial disclosures, i.e., lists identifying individuals and evidence relevant to the lawsuit’s claims and defenses. The DoJ will be sending Google their list today which contains the names of over 100(!) individuals and companies, including mine.