Feds Officially Launch Antitrust Investigation Into Google Business Practices
- Posted on June 24, 2011 at 2:00pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal regulators have begun a formal antitrust investigation into Google’s business practices.
In a blog post Friday, the Internet search giant said it received notification from the Federal Trade Commission of the review on Thursday.
Google said “it‘s still unclear exactly what the FTC’s concerns are.”
But the inquiry is expected to focus in large part on whether Google abuses its dominance of Internet search to extend its influence into other lucrative online markets, such as mapping, comparison shopping and travel. Rivals complain that Google, which handles two out of every three Internet searches in the U.S., manipulates its results to steer users to its own sites and services and bury links to competitors.
The European Commission and the Texas attorney general have already opened investigations into whether Google uses its enormous clout as a major gateway to the Internet to stifle competition online. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s antitrust subcommittee, too, is examining whether Google gives its own services favorable treatment in search results.
Google maintains that most of the accusations of anticompetitive behavior come not from users, who like its services, but from competitors that are not pleased with their search rankings. “Since the beginning, we have been guided by the idea that, if we focus on the user, all else will follow,” the company said in its blog post.
“We make hundreds of changes to our algorithms every year to improve your search experience,” it added. “Not every website can come out at the top of the page, or even appear on the first page of our search results.”
In midday trading Friday, Google’s stock fell $6.66 or 1.4 percent, to $473.56.
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Comments (35)
Mamma Bear
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:44pmDid they really think that this adminstration wouldn’t eat their own. Watch out you big four banks, they will eat you next. Too big to fail?! Thought you could win when playing with evil.
Report Post »armtv
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 4:45amWe run a website that streams armwrestling videos. The largest site in the world for the sport (although a considerably smaller niche sport) we still maintain the largest collection of videos for the past 8 years and Google buries us down to page four on search for armwrestling… yet puts youtube links on page one.. I have sent emails asking what we can do to improve our search and we get no response. Thankfully we come up number one for ‘armwrestling videos’ but page four for armwrestling. I have often wondered if they favor youtube for video related searches.
Report Post »confederacyofdunces
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:34amThey are investigating Google so that you will not notice their lack of cooperation with the investigation into the ATF and the deaths surrounding “Fast and Furious”. I’m sure Osama and Clinton knew all about F+F.
Report Post »goobert
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 11:17amWhats the big deal just because they have all kinds of information doesn’t mean its not encrypted and hard for them to get to. Unlike the federal government who wanted companies like Google to punch holes in services like Gmail so they could wiretap or search your email.
What matters isnt how much data someone has on a person. It matters on how they use it and what measures they take to secure someones privacy. And who has access to it and how its used.
If they store all my emails for the last 5 years I dont care as long as Im the only one with access to them.
Report Post »chicago76
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:54amJust another pay to play scheme.
Report Post »Dabldo
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 7:47amWhile they scare the daylights out of me……… I love how well it works. So much power. So much potential to do evil with a wrong minor decision. With great power IS great responsibility – to use it carefully.
Report Post »ISRAELISOURFRIEND
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 2:54amISRAELISOURFRIEND
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 2:52am
Is it really hard to believe that a company that is so deep in bed with Obama and the Demolitics is corrupt?
What‘s actually harder to believe is that Eric Holder and Treason Company isn’t punishing the FTC and forcing another blind eye.
Oh wait I forgot…What’s the other hand doing?
but I digress. Sigh…………………………………..
Report Post »ISRAELISOURFRIEND
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 2:52amIs it really hard to believe that a company that is so deep in bed with Obama and the Demolitics is corrupt?
What‘s actually harder to believe is that Eric Holder and Treason Company isn’t punishing the FTC and forcing another blind eye.
Report Post »ChuckWebb
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 7:55pmThe Feds are going to “investigate” Google. Is that a conundrum? Or an oxymoron? Or just stupid?
Report Post »Mtroom
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 3:36pmit’s only more of our money…..lemme guess 2 million taxpayer dollars to tell us “nothing to see here, move along…”
Report Post »AmericanLass
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 2:19pmIsn’t that like slapping your own hand ?
Report Post »jackact
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 1:22pmMore ‘smoke & mirror‘s’.
Report Post »This is all about us and how we engage,organize and fund conservatism online.
Every dollar the left raises – we match $100.00.
The unions are almost bankrupt and there is only (1) Soros.
They are petrified.
It’s not about Google.
The fed’s want control of the internet (us).
firemanfrank
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 12:35amThey are just making sure that Google has the power to do such and stay under the radar , Now The Obama team can manipulate their system and work a deal to put all of their anti-American rhetoric right on top and what they dont want you to search or learn you wont. MIND CONTROL
Report Post »babylonvi
Posted on June 25, 2011 at 5:15pmThis is silly. The government is ALLOWED to have a monopoly. As an ‘kinetic arm” af the NSA and CIA, one could easily argue they are permitted to run a monopoly.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In-Q-Tel
Report Post »elphi43
Posted on June 25, 2011 at 3:31amIt is very suspicious, BHO has done an excellent at stagnating the economy, how is it that Goggle is still strong? That grounds right there for an investigation.
Report Post »krenshau
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:12pmWho cares if they bury other peoples sites? It’s their search engine. If people don’t like it, use a different search engine. That’s how the free market works. They aren’t forcing anyone to use their service, and they aren‘t even required to show any sites in their listings if they don’t want to. I don’t like google because they are socialist traitors, but we can‘t abandon the free market just to nail a company that we don’t like.
Report Post »ProudPJ
Posted on June 27, 2011 at 5:59pmI agree complety. This is, well, sort of a free market. When your talking about Google being in bed with the government, it gets fuzzy. But your comment is true. So weren’t those guys pushing real hard for that “Net Neutrality”?
You can’t make this stuff up.
Report Post »PubliusMaximus
Posted on June 28, 2011 at 12:55pmSpot on! Google remains on top because it delivers the most seamless user experience.
Don’t like it? Don’t use it- its a free market. If fewer user choose Google over time, they lose revenue, and will go the way of Prodigy and the Commodore 64.
Unless you feel that chem-trails are influencing Americans choices in search engines…
Report Post »Wabbitseason
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 11:12pmIxquick…that’s what I use and it has worked well for me. I have avoided creepytown Google for months now- as have the IT guys at my university.
Report Post »jpys
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 7:56pmDon’t worry too much about Google. Some pawns may fall but the top execs will not because they are globalists. Eric Schmidt, Executive Chairman of Google, is fresh from the Bilderberg Meeting, June 9 – 12, in St. Moritz, Switzerland. The globalists rarely eat their own.
Report Post »http://bilderberg2011.com/bilderberg-members/leaked-attendee-list-bilderberg-conference-june-9-12-2011-in-suvretta-house-hotel-st-moritz-switzerland/
miles from nowhere
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 5:32pmI do not trust Google, I feel real unconfortable with them having to much power. More info on who runs and operates Google needs to be public knowledge
Report Post »Wdawg
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 6:16pmIm starting to think tea party stands for fascism. Forcing private companies to hand over data! Liberals dont even do that with Haliburton or KGB contractors!!
Report Post »AffirmationChick
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 6:02pmThe original commenter never mentioned the government forcing out more knowledge about Google, simply that more should be known about who’s behind “do no evil.” I think there’s plenty out there, though, if people would just pay attention and look it up — using a different search engine.
Report Post »STAR SPANGLED SPAMMER
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:53pmJust another fake investigation to downplay and distort the real truth about the relationship between the Government & Google. They are totally in bed together, don’t let this good cop bad cop crap fool you.
(“trust nobody”)….Power to the People!!!
Report Post »ebaytoad
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 7:30pmI agree completely!!
Report Post »flsnipe
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:42pmThey will investigate wast a lot of time and MONEY and then Do Nothing!!!!!!!!!!!
Report Post »I.Gaspar
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:39pmIf I were Google, I wouldn’t worry too much. I’m sure they pay the proper dues.
Report Post »art4hire
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:16pmsomebody must be holdin on to contributions or kickbacks, how redundant, sorry
Report Post »righthanddrive
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:15pmOh oh, the Google guys did not attend yesterdays $35,800/plate dinner (or attend in sufficient numbers). So this is what is in store for if if we re-elect the regime?
Report Post »CaptMickeyd
Posted on June 24, 2011 at 4:11pm“In midday trading Friday, Google’s stock fell $6.66 or 1.4 percent, to $473.56.”
666, eh? Sounds familiar.
Report Post »dr_funk
Posted on June 25, 2011 at 12:55amAnd my total at Taco Bell was $6.66. What’s your point? Is Taco Bell the antichrist, or is it Google?
Its stupid to go looking for it.
Report Post »Gold Coin & Economic News
Posted on June 26, 2011 at 9:08amGoogle has mountains, mountains of data on every one of us, they are in bed with BHO and the federalies like no other company except maybe GE and they attend the Bilderberg conference. Sounds pretty dangerous to me.
Plus, they weeded out the relevancy of shopping engines from their search algorithm, kicked some 200,000 affiliate marketers off their Adwords advertising platform (I was one of them) and then built their own shopping engine which they give preference to in their search results.
What happened to “Don’t be evil”?
Report Post »