Is that how we are planning on fixing the EU budget?
Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
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Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#42Google needs to be broken up. If Microsoft could be broken up, Google deserves it 100x. They control way too much.
When did Microsoft get broken up?
It was the result of a (later overturned) ruling in 2000: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Cor...
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#43Is there an other article with some background / explanation what Google did in this case? That they were "blocking others" doesn't tell me much. Edit: The linked article is now updated, at the time it was basically just a paragraph stating the fine.
It's in the official press release:
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-19-1770_en.htm
That doc says Google's deals with publishers relating to AdSense for Search (which e.g. shows ads in newspaper sites' on-site search results) harmed competition by restricting what their partners could do with other potential providers. And that this was abuse of Google's dominant position in the relevant market.
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#44The original title says €1.5bn.
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#45I don't know, I see the super state that the EU wants to become as scary as the super tech company people fear in Google. Also, making it hard to change browsers is not the same as prohibiting changing browsers. Some things are hard to change in Linux too, but I am sure for different reasons that are the result of how they pile on top of each other. The EU could use a cash infusion though given its current economic state.
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#46Then look at GDPR, which is a mess imho, and article 13 too
Why is GDPR a mess? As an EU citizen (for the time being at least) with personal data I want to protect I'm quite happy with it.
As someone starting a startup there's compliance I need to do, and it's work for sure, but I still (again, for now) live in the EU as a citizen, and I still have personal data that I don't want to lose control of so on balance I'll take it.
article 13 is bad for sure. They don't get everything right by a long shot, but on balance I think the changes have been positive.
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#47Earlier quoted context omitted.
GDPR is quite good actually, we will just need to find a way to use its power for good.
It's good for US tech because it is yet another cost and restriction EU startups have to face before they can grow to scale and profitability.
It's a very small cost that all companies should already be able to handle if they're to be trusted with personal data.
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#48That's small money for the Google. Last year they gave Google €4.34bn fine and in year 2017 they gave Google €2.42bn fine.
To my knowledge each country within the EU can also seperately fine Google. It could add up very quickly.
Personally i also think getting fined constantly is not a reliable business model. :)
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#49The EU feels to me like one of the few forces for good in the world at the moment
There was a commentary in the German media in context of Brexit that I think really think sums the EU and her role in the world up nicely: "Brexit shows what we have in the EU. She clears up issues among neighbors, grating them into rules and sometimes unsatisfactory compromises. But she grates them small, in a civilized and peaceful way. That's her big achievement." (rough translation by me, sorry) https://twitter.c…
Worth remembering that a lot of people in the UK, possibly a majority by this point, are perfectly clear as to what we stand to lose if the UK leaves the EU. :-(
Re: Google hit with €1.5B fine from EU over advertising
#50The EU feels to me like one of the few forces for good in the world at the moment
Let's not pretend it's not a mixed bag, e.g.: 'European multinationals are aggressively pursuing one of milk’s few growth markets, where locals say they can’t compete.' https://www.politico.eu/article/eus-milk-scramble-for-africa...
At the same time, the EU spends a lot of money on subsidies just so that farms (big and small) can keep their head above water. I wouldn't mind if that was changed somewhat, give smaller farms more survivability, but at the same time it's the market forces that should be changed so that farmers get fairer prices for their products.