EU to probe market control of Facebook, Google, other tech firms
The European Commission is beginning a probe into how major technology companies such as Amazon, Facebook, and Google exploit their market power, a move that could potentially lead to new regulations, a report said on Tuesday.
Reuters indicated that the initiative is part of the "Digital Single Market Strategy" announced today by Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip, intended to help European online businesses compete with American rivals, which control much of the global market. In the process the Commission is expected to update European copyright laws and make it easier for companies to deliver packages across international borders, among wider policy changes.
Some areas of concern with big technology businesses are reportedly whether they are fully transparent about how search results are displayed, and whether they promote their own services to the point of hurting others.
The two leading powers in the European Union, France and Germany, have asked for regulation of "essential digital platforms" that undergird much of the Internet. Google, for instance, is the world's leading search provider, and is usually the default option in Web browsers.
Ansip recently told the Wall Street Journal last month that the Commission is not disproportionately targeting U.S. companies in its antitrust investigations. Google has been hit by multiple antitrust allegations, but of the 81 companies subject to Commission antitrust decisions between 2010 and 2014, only 21 were American.
"The American firms are allowed to have dominant positions, even monopolies here in the E.U., according to our regulations," he said.
There is no indication yet that Apple might be subject to the new probe, despite iTunes' control of music downloads and the App Store being the only source of iOS apps.
Reuters indicated that the initiative is part of the "Digital Single Market Strategy" announced today by Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip, intended to help European online businesses compete with American rivals, which control much of the global market. In the process the Commission is expected to update European copyright laws and make it easier for companies to deliver packages across international borders, among wider policy changes.
Some areas of concern with big technology businesses are reportedly whether they are fully transparent about how search results are displayed, and whether they promote their own services to the point of hurting others.
The two leading powers in the European Union, France and Germany, have asked for regulation of "essential digital platforms" that undergird much of the Internet. Google, for instance, is the world's leading search provider, and is usually the default option in Web browsers.
Ansip recently told the Wall Street Journal last month that the Commission is not disproportionately targeting U.S. companies in its antitrust investigations. Google has been hit by multiple antitrust allegations, but of the 81 companies subject to Commission antitrust decisions between 2010 and 2014, only 21 were American.
"The American firms are allowed to have dominant positions, even monopolies here in the E.U., according to our regulations," he said.
There is no indication yet that Apple might be subject to the new probe, despite iTunes' control of music downloads and the App Store being the only source of iOS apps.
Comments
Here's what I don't understand: where was this concern a decade ago when Microsoft Windows ruled the desktop and for a while, the browser market ("best viewed on Internet Explorer")?
And if the situation were reversed, and say, a company like Nokia had dominant position in Europe, would they lift a finger to help American firms compete there? Or is this just blatant protectionism?
Google and Amazon haves become a monopolistic behemoths without competition because of their sheer size. Do we need the Walmart-MS-isation that monopolizes markets solely by virtue of their sheer size?
Genius. Just genius. Evil...but genius.
Here's what I don't understand: where was this concern a decade ago when Microsoft Windows ruled the desktop and for a while, the browser market ("best viewed on Internet Explorer")?
Err... I think you must have missed a few headlines. Microsoft have been fined billions of euros over anti-competitive behaviour.
BBC: Microsoft fined by EU for not abiding by anti-competitive sanctions
BBC: Microsoft fined by EU over Internet Explorer
BBC: Microsoft fined by EU over anti-competitive behaviour (including Windows Media Player)
I would not be surprised. The French have been known to kill English sheep being imported.
http://www.nytimes.com/1990/09/17/world/french-protest-of-sheep-imports-turns-ugly.html
Out of curiosity the EU ever go after the BBC Micro, Sinclair or Allan Sugar for anything like that (I already know about sheep!)? I would imagine the French would have blocked all of these given half a chance.
^ None of those ever had a monopoly, so I'm not sure how they could abuse a monopolistic position.
It Gauls the French that the rest of the world exists... almost as much as it crêpes them out that English-speaking countries had to save their incompetent butts from the Huns twice in the last century.
LOL. Très drôle
I'm sure you correct. Cough cough ...
Wtf is this?
Nudge nudge wink wink say no more?
Protectionism.
^ tbh, I think the French are over it. It's the English-speaking world that seems to have the hang-up.
I have seen litle evidence for that in my travels. The French need to grow up and get over themselves.
Cough cough?
Wtf is this?
Nudge nudge wink wink say no more?
Calme... ze beeg Yankees tend to forget ze "Vente de la Louisiane".
I have seen litle evidence for that in my travels. The French need to grow up and get over themselves.
Typical small island mentality... n'est pas?