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U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

reuters.com

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Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#61

Post by ziml77 »

t-3 wrote: post #56
mhh__ wrote: post #47

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that looking a gift horse in the mouth?

Not really, when any investigations or actions are likely to be indefinitely delayed as soon as a lobbyist writes check. If they actually do something other than slap-on-the-wrist fines that don't even do damage, you won't hear me complaining, but I don't have high expectations. The EU seems to be far more interested in reigning in big tech, but they don't seem to be any more succesful, and their most substantive eff…

Is it possible the EU is being careful because the major tech companies that it would want to punish are all American? People over here could see those actions as the EU trying to take down American companies so that companies in EU countries can take an overwhelmingly dominant position. I would imagine that perception could lead to restrictions and tariffs just like we've applied to China.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#62

Post by dillondoyle »

ignoramous wrote: post #21
kaycebasques wrote: post #17

> The lawsuit also highlights Google's use of a secret program dubbed "Project Bernanke" in 2013 that used bidding data to give its own ad-buying an advantage. For example, in a 2015 iteration of the program, Google allegedly dropped the second-highest bids from publishers' auctions, accumulated money into a pool and then spent that money to inflate only the bids belonging advertisers who used the company's Google Ad…

This summary by Jason Kint is pretty digestible: https://twitter.com/jason_kint/status/1451621332983103492

Ok. So basically if i'm reading that correctly? :

- google is basically offering bid shading on both sides of the transaction. (RPO on pub side according to this tweet) - Both dynamically increasing floor to buy NyTimes.com based on the current likely bid - And for buyers increasing/decreasing bid to pay the best 2nd price auction clearing price

which imho is the main problem that should be legislated; you can't own all sides of a transaction AND the pipes. instead of trying to convince a jury of some complicated insider trading monopoly confusing mess.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#63

Post by sjtindell »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #60
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

The underlying assumption is that this behavior is bad. Why is it bad? Especially bad enough to be regulated by a new law?

It hinders fair competition, which hurts consumers. It misallocates dollars to these gatekeepers.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#64

Post by tonightstoast »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #60
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

The underlying assumption is that this behavior is bad. Why is it bad? Especially bad enough to be regulated by a new law?

The current chair of the FTC has an interesting paper on this question (written before she became chair).

https://www.yalelawjournal.org/pdf/e.710.Khan.805_zuvfyyeh.p...

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#65

Post by skohan »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #60
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

The underlying assumption is that this behavior is bad. Why is it bad? Especially bad enough to be regulated by a new law?

Are you kidding? You don't think this kind of behavior disincentivizes innovation?

And it's not exactly new. Common carrier regulations have been a thing forever.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#66

Post by II2II »

sillysaurusx wrote: post #60
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

The underlying assumption is that this behavior is bad. Why is it bad? Especially bad enough to be regulated by a new law?

It is a conflict of interest that allows them to gain a disproportionate amount of control over the market. It causes direct harm to competitors, through both the access to confidential sales data and access to the market. It also causes harm to consumers (at least in cases of locked down platforms like iOS) since they no longer have access to competitor's products. In short, it is no longer a free market.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#67

Post by ngngngng »

mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

Does this only go for internet companies? Or do you think it applies to Walmart selling its own Equate brand of everything or Costco selling its own Kirkland brand of everything?

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#68

Post by amelius »

ngngngng wrote: post #67
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

Does this only go for internet companies? Or do you think it applies to Walmart selling its own Equate brand of everything or Costco selling its own Kirkland brand of everything?

Do you have an argument against that?

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#69

Post by danielmarkbruce »

krono wrote: post #34
dantheman wrote: post #27

It'd be great if states actually focused on real problems like education and medicine instead of going after tech which provides services for free and is generally liked. No one is blaming tech for debt or financial ruin.

You cannot be serious. Where do you think all that money went?

Self driving cars, free email, free docs, sheets etc.

It is a serious point. Protecting advertising companies from each other is a perplexing choice of resource allocation given the alternatives.

Re: U.S. states file updated antitrust complaint against Google

#70

Post by hnxs »

ngngngng wrote: post #67
mabbo wrote: post #53

As more data comes out about Google, Apple, Amazon, one simple underlying thing becomes clear: a single company cannot be trusted to operate a marketplace while also being a participant . Apple's App Store insider knowledge lets them discover popular apps, then boot them off the platform when they decide to compete. Amazon sees what products are successful and profitable, then makes knock-offs which they promote over…

Does this only go for internet companies? Or do you think it applies to Walmart selling its own Equate brand of everything or Costco selling its own Kirkland brand of everything?

Can you explain how Costco is relevant here when they make most of their money off membership fees and not sales?
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