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Can the E.U. dismantle Google? Should it?

 

 

Would Dismantling Google be Going too Far? (Le Monde, France)  

 

"With a 90 percent share of Internet searches within the European Union, Google is in a situation of non-competition. … Google's de facto quasi-monopoly over online searches within the European Union allows Google to promote its own services - YouTube, Google Maps, etc. - and thus capitalize on its dominant position. Therein lays the threat to competition. … Even … Google executives themselves don't conceal that the size of the firm is beginning to be a problem."

 

EDITORIAL

 

Translated By Jill Naeem

 

December 9, 2014

 

France – Le Monde – Original Article (French)

No one can accuse Google, in this case, of failing to remain neutral as a search engine. If you type the question "Should Google be broken up?" into Google, you will get no less than 374,000 responses covering almost the entire spectrum of possible opinion from fiercest Googlephobes to fans of the Mountain View (California) firm. This is nice, fair play, all that one could wish for, but it doesn't resolve the problems posed by the search engine. And problems there are.

 

On November 27, members of the European Parliament were right to be alarmed, once more, about the risk of concentration in the digital market. In a purely hortatory text, approved overwhelmingly, they targeted Google without naming it. With a 90 percent share of Internet searches within the European Union, Google is in a situation of non-competition. It is not necessarily its fault that it has such a boulevard in Europe: its market share in the United States is lower, at around 70 percent.

 

However, as noted by the parliamentarians, this de facto quasi-monopoly over online searches within the European Union allows Google to promote its own services - YouTube, Google Maps, etc. - and thus capitalize on its dominant position. Therein lays the threat to competition. That is how it is understood by the group of publishers, price trackers and European tour operators, as well as by the Microsoft America, which have launched proceedings against Google with the European authorities.

Posted by Worldmeets.US

 

Protection of private data

 

The European Commission's investigation is advancing at a snail's pace and is already four years old. It has produced a few proposals deemed unsatisfactory by the complainants: notably, having Google make clear in its search engine results which are its own services. Should we dismantle the company, as some advocate? Pending the results of the investigation, we will take care not to hastily resort to the "atomic bomb" - even if Google executives themselves don't conceal that the size of the firm is beginning to be a problem.

 

However, we must be more radical when it comes to the second major issue posed by Google. It affects our freedoms and the protection of personal data collected by the firm. As much as we suspect among Europeans an aftertaste of jealousy in the battles fought in Brussels against the American Net giants - why don't we have firms of this quality! - in regard to our freedoms, we must be uncompromising.

 

Yet this week, the competent European bodies denounced the non-compliance or incomplete compliance by Google with the "digital right to be forgotten," which is the norm in Europe as decreed by the European Court of Justice. This allows Europeans to demand the removal of search results related to them. Google should strictly interpret the law, according to the group of bodies advocating protection of European data freedom.

 

This battle is most important as it touches on the culture, identity and values of Europe. This must be given priority because the threat is real. And Google penalized if necessary.

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:

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El Tiempo, Colombia: Google and Facebook Thrive Off of Our Own Indiscretions

FAZ, Germany: What is there to Fear from Google Robots?

Le Temps, Switzerland: Employee Eggs and the 'Cold New World' Order

FAZ, Germany: U.S. Piracy Claim Against Baidu, Taobao 'Revenge' for Google Spat

Finance East Day, China: Employee Eggs and the 'Cold New World' Order

FAZ, Germany: The Self Defeating Charges of 'Cyber-Thief' America
Le Figaro, France: Google Affair Harms Reputation of China

The Times, U.K.: China Returns Fire Against America in 'Google-War'

The Times, U.K.: Hillary Guards Net Freedom; Attacks China's 'Berlin Wall'

Taipei Times, Taiwan: China vs. Google - Why is Taiwan Making Enemies?

People's Daily, China: China Urges U.S. to Stop Accusations

China Daily, China: Life Without Google? China Will Be Fine

ABC News, Australia: Australia, U.S. On Collision Course Over Net Censorship

People's Daily, China: Google's Attempted 'Threat to Chinese Sovereignty'

Global Times, China: Google-China Split Would Be a Loss for 'Both Sides'

China Daily, China: Google Grabs More Eyeballs in China

China Daily, China: Google No Exception' to the Law

Frankfurter Allgemeine, Germany: Google Was Wise to Enter China

The Economist, U.K.: Google and China - Flowers for a Funeral

People's Daily, China: Google's Attempted 'Threat to Chinese Sovereignty'

Die Tageszeitung, Germany: Consumers Must Demand Social Justice From Apple

Trouw, The Netherlands: Apple vs. Samsung: In America, Even a 'Fart' can be Patented!

JoongAnd Ilbo, South Korea: Apple vs. Samsung: More Proof U.S. Industry Lost its Edge

Global Times, China: Shiny Metal 'God' Too Much for China's Apple 'Cultists'

Wen Wei Po, Hong Kong: 'Where is China's Steve Jobs?'

Diario Economico, Portugal: Life of Jobs Should Inspire 'All Portuguese'

Le Monde, France: From Mac to iPad, Jobs Rode Imagination to Power

Asia Times, Hong Kong: iSad in Damascus: Syria Reclaims Jobs

Estadao, Brazil: Jobs Embodied Spirit that Still Makes America Great

Yedioth Ahronot, Israel: Steve Jobs: Rabbi's Inspiration

Der Speigel, Germany: German Editorials: The Passing of Steve Jobs

Times of India, India: People of India Pay Tribute to Steve Jobs

The Hindu, India: iConic Jobs

The Hindu, India: Jobs - The Inimitable iMan

The Montreal Gazette, Canada: Steve Jobs was a World-Changer

Adelaide Now, Australia: Steve Jobs Earns Place in History

Daily Mail, U.K.: Dying Jobs Left Plans For Years of New Products

 

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[Posted by Worldmeets.US Dec. 9, 6:24pm]

 

 

 

 

 

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