Early August 2024, a federal judge ruled that Google has used its position to “violate fair competition laws” (eg, Wired-2024) and thus acted as “an illegal monopolist” (eg, The Verge-2024, Wired-2024). Consequently, a “Google breakup is on the table, say DOJ lawyers” (eg, FT-2024, The Verge-2024).
My question is simple: in whose interest is a Google break-up??
Hence, I made this rather elementary diagram some time ago in my Apple iPad Notes, following the release of iOS 18.
Certainly, it’s not in my interest as a Google user. Clearly, it’s in the interest of Google’s competition: “Murdoch’s News Corp calls for Google breakup” (Phys-2019).
Apparently, it’s also in the (political) interest of Donald Trump, although “he stopped short of openly supporting a breakup”. Possibly because most of Trump’s words are rooted in reverse psychology. In latter case, Trump might already be blackmailing Google with his words.
“In an interview with Bloomberg, Trump heavily criticized the tech giant, saying it treats him “very badly.” Despite this, he stopped short of openly supporting a breakup. “Google is rigged just like our government is rigged,” he said. “What you can do without breaking it up is make sure it’s more fair,” Trump suggested. Trump’s Justice Department was the first to accuse Google of developing an illegal search monopoly, an accusation that developed into an August court decision ruling that the company had violated antitrust laws. The judge is still deciding what the punishment will be.”
A 2024 quote from an article in the conservative Washington Examiner
His use of reverse psychology is also transpiring from these words:
- Trump cited competition with China as the reason for his skepticism of an outright Google breakup, saying that “China is afraid of Google.” (WE-2024)
- “It’s a very dangerous thing because we want to have great companies,” he said. “We don’t want China to have these companies.” (WE-2024)
In response to the DOJ lawyers, Google commented as follows (source), from bad to worse:
- “Google claimed proposals being mulled by US authorities which include a potential splitting of the tech giant could create security risks, hold back AI innovation and break the Android OS.”
- In a statement published in the wake of the DoJ filing, Google VP regulatory affairs Lee-Anne Mulholland claimed the authority was “already signalling requests that go far beyond the specific legal issues raised in this case”.
- “This case is about a set of search distribution contracts. Rather than focus on that, the government seems to be pursuing a sweeping agenda that will impact numerous industries and products, with significant unintended consequences for consumers, businesses and American competitiveness.”
I would not be surprised if these DOJ lawyers are “blackmailing” Google in order to improve Google’s (un)willingness for cooperation with the US government (eg, identity, security, threats).
Fortunately, “Breaking up Google is hard to do” (Axios, 16 August 2024).
Breaking Up Is Hard to Do (1962+1975) by Neil Sedaka
artist, lyrics, video, Wiki-artist, Wiki-song
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless in quotes or stated otherwise.
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