The
E.U. versus Google: Is suing too much, or not enough?
Suing Monopolistic Google is
One Thing; Protecting Personal Data Another (Le Monde, France)
"Brussels has
finally taken a tough line with Google. It is a good thing that it has, but this is not enough. ... If it wishes
to arm itself to better protect its citizens and businesses in a world that is
digitizing at a breakneck pace, the E.U. must adopt the directive on protecting
personal data that was proposed more than three years ago and which has been
endlessly nitpicked by the E.U.'s 28 member states. The
Union must address all matters pertaining to the issue of digital sovereignty."
After five years of equivocation, Brussels has finally taken
a tough line with Google. On Wednesday, April 15, the European Commission accused
the U.S. Internet giant of violating E.U. antitrust laws by promoting its
search engine, the Google Shopping service, at the expense of its competitors.
It also decided to launch a formal investigation into Android, Google's mobile
operating system. It is a good thing that it has.
From the point of view of tactics, this will put Brussels in
a much better negotiating position when it comes to imposing corrective action on
the American search engine giant, as will likely be the case in the coming
months. This will ultimately benefit competing search engines and European
consumers.
This decision sets a precedent. No, Europe is not afraid of
tackling a company as powerful as Google. That may be because the European
Commission has no fear that during the course of its investigation, its provision
of illegal state aid [to European firms] might emerge, as was the case with tax
evasion charges against Amazon or Apple. Yes, the European Union has adopted
laws that it intends to enforce. So if Google, Amazon or Apple wish to continue prospering from this market of 500 million
consumers, they must follow the rules.
That Europe has gone on the offensive in these topics is a
good thing - notably when it comes to digital taxation, even as access to the
Internet is becoming nearly indispensable in our societies and is presently
controlled by a handful of American firms (the famous "GAFA":
Google, Amazon, Facebook and Apple) which are largely beyond all regulation.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Monopolistic Internet Giants Threaten the Global Economy (Le Monde, France)
This is not enough, however. If it wishes to arm itself to
better protect its citizens and businesses in a world that is digitizing at a breakneck
pace, the E.U. must adopt the directive on protecting personal data that was
proposed more than three years ago and which has been endlessly nitpicked by
the E.U.'s 28 member states. The Union must address
all matters pertaining to the issue of digital sovereignty.
However, Europe cannot slip away from criticism made across
the Atlantic that it regulates out of jealousy for not being able to give birth
to a European Google. In fact, if we want to avoid complete dependence on "GAFA," we must encourage the formation of European Internet
giants. The E.U. must make genuine digital development a priority.
