US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition
11 years, 8 months ago

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition

Firstpost  

Antitrust regulators are conducting a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc’s recent acquisition of online mapping service Waze, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Google was able to close the deal without US regulatory approval because Waze’s revenue and assets in the US were below the $70.9 million threshold required for antitrust review. Google’s existing online mapping service is one of the most popular, and analysts say Google might have been motivated by a desire to keep Waze and its real-time traffic information out of rivals’ hands. It is unclear whether the FTC inquiry relates to Google’s assessment of the value of Waze’s U.S.-based assets such as its intellectual property and Google’s decision to bypass U.S. regulatory approval, or if the FTC is examining the broader question of whether the deal poses competitive issues.

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History of this topic

Google set to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion
Top News
5 days, 10 hours ago

Google set to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz for $32 billion

Hindustan Times  

Google parent Alphabet Inc. agreed to acquire cybersecurity firm Wiz Inc. for $32 billion in cash, reaching a deal less than a year after initial negotiations fell apart because the cloud-computing startup wanted to stay independent. Google will acquire cloud security platform Wiz for $32 billion, citing the need for greater cybersecurity capacity as artificial intelligence embeds itself in technology …

Google urges US government to avoid breaking up firm: Report
2 weeks, 4 days ago

Google urges US government to avoid breaking up firm: Report

Deccan Chronicle  

Google met with President Donald Trump's government last week and urged them to back away from a push to break up the search engine company, according to a person familiar with the matter. As we've publicly said, we're concerned the current proposals would harm the American economy and national security," a Google spokesperson said. The department has laid out potential …

Google’s search ad business faces fresh investigation from UK’s competition watchdog
2 months, 1 week ago

Google’s search ad business faces fresh investigation from UK’s competition watchdog

The Hindu  

Britain's competition watchdog said Tuesday it's investigating Google's search ad business, adding to global scrutiny that the U.S. tech giant is facing. Using new powers to investigate competition in digital markets, the watchdog said it would determine whether Google should be given “strategic market status” that would require imposing remedies to change its behavior. Google said in a statement that …

Google faces more scrutiny as UK watchdog flexes new digital competition powers
2 months, 1 week ago

Google faces more scrutiny as UK watchdog flexes new digital competition powers

Associated Press  

LONDON — Britain’s competition watchdog flexed new digital market powers on Monday for the first time with an investigation into Google’s search and search ad businesses. Under beefed-up rules that took effect this month designed to protect consumers and businesses from unfair practices by Big Tech companies, the Competition and Markets Authority said it would determine whether Google should be …

Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case
2 months, 3 weeks ago

Apple seeks to defend Google's billion-dollar payments in search case

The Hindu  

Apple has asked to participate in Google's upcoming U.S. antitrust trial over online search, saying it cannot rely on Google to defend revenue-sharing agreements that send the iPhone maker billions of dollars each year for making Google the default search engine on its Safari browser. Apple does not plan to build its own search engine to compete with Alphabet's Google, …

Google offers to loosen search deals in US antitrust case remedy
3 months ago

Google offers to loosen search deals in US antitrust case remedy

The Hindu  

Alphabet's Google proposed on Friday a loosening of its agreements with Apple and others to set Google as the default search engine on new devices, in a bid to address a U.S. ruling that it unlawfully dominates online search. That is especially true "in an environment where remarkable artificial intelligence innovations are rapidly changing how people interact with many online …

Google proposes to loosen default search engine deals with Apple and others in US antitrust case
3 months ago

Google proposes to loosen default search engine deals with Apple and others in US antitrust case

Hindustan Times  

Alphabet's Google proposed on Friday a loosening of its agreements with Apple and others to set Google as the default search engine on new devices to address a U.S. ruling that it unlawfully dominates online search. The judge found the agreements give Google a "major, largely unseen advantage over its rivals" and result in most devices in the U.S. coming …

Why the U.S. Department of Justice wants Google to divest its Chrome browser | Explained
3 months, 3 weeks ago

Why the U.S. Department of Justice wants Google to divest its Chrome browser | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: In August, U.S. Federal Judge Amit Mehta, in a tech industry-defining case, said Google had illegal monopoly power in the online search market. The DOJ wants to make it so that “Google is prohibited from owning not only a browser—following its divestiture of Chrome it may not reenter the browser market for five years—but also from …

Google Break-Up: US Regulator Could Force Search Giant To Sell Off Chrome, Stop Android Favour
4 months ago

Google Break-Up: US Regulator Could Force Search Giant To Sell Off Chrome, Stop Android Favour

ABP News  

US regulators are ramping up efforts to dismantle Google’s monopoly power, proposing a breakup of the tech giant that could see its Chrome web browser sold off and its Android software stripped of preferential treatment for its search engine. These include halting multibillion-dollar agreements that make Google the default search engine on devices like Apple’s iPhone and requiring Google to …

Court challenges to Google's search supremacy an 'existential threat' — so how could it be split up?
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Court challenges to Google's search supremacy an 'existential threat' — so how could it be split up?

ABC  

Google's monopoly on search is clear. This deal saw Google pay Apple a slice of advertising revenue, in return for preloading its search engine as the exclusive default on Apple's Safari browser. The court ultimately ruled that Google had broke the law by "maintaining a monopoly" on search. "The result of that case is that it cleared a space for …

Google's AI-Fueled Profits Continue Despite Regulatory Threats
Trending News
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Google's AI-Fueled Profits Continue Despite Regulatory Threats

Associated Press  

Google's financial performance remains strong despite challenges from AI and regulatory scrutiny. The company's profits and revenue increased due to its moneymaking machine powered by its search engine, but this is primarily attributed to the AI investments. The company is facing legal challenges from the US Department of Justice and Virginia state authorities regarding its search engine and digital advertising …

U.S. weighs Google breakup in landmark trial
5 months, 2 weeks ago

U.S. weighs Google breakup in landmark trial

Raw Story  

The U.S. Department of Justice said on Tuesday it would demand that Google make profound changes to how it does business and even consider the possibility of a breakup, after the tech juggernaut was found to be running an illegal monopoly. Determining how to address Google's wrongs is the next stage of a landmark antitrust trial that saw the company …

Yelp versus Google: An antitrust court fight plays out in San Francisco
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Yelp versus Google: An antitrust court fight plays out in San Francisco

LA Times  

For years, Yelp has complained about Google’s practices, alleging that the tech giant placed its own products above competitors in Google search results. “Google’s conduct has injured Yelp through lower traffic, reduced advertising revenues, raising Yelp’s own costs, and impaired network effects that come with fewer new and returning users,” Yelp said in its lawsuit. It comes weeks after a …

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google Has Acted As A Monopoly, Violated Competition Illegally: US Judge Says About Company's Practices

News 18  

Google has once again made the headlines regarding its search monopoly in the market and how it has been able to pump billions into the segment illegally and push competition way behind. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Monday ruled that Google had violated antitrust law by spending billions of dollars to secure exclusive agreements with developers, carriers and equipment …

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google loses major antitrust case over search, declared a monopoly by judge

LA Times  

In a major blow to Google, a federal judge on Monday ruled that the tech giant violated antitrust laws by illegally maintaining a monopoly on web searches. “As this process continues, we will remain focused on making products that people find helpful and easy to use.” Regulators alleged that Google maintained a monopoly on web searches by reaching agreements with …

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules
7 months, 2 weeks ago

Google abused its power to maintain monopoly on search, US court rules

The Telegraph  

Google abused its power to maintain an illegal monopoly over the online search market, a US judge has ruled. Kent Walker, president of Google global affairs, said the company planned to appeal and said: “This decision recognizes that Google offers the best search engine, but concludes that we shouldn’t be allowed to make it easily available.” The case was bought …

Google faces second day of closing arguments in US antitrust trial
10 months, 2 weeks ago

Google faces second day of closing arguments in US antitrust trial

Hindustan Times  

The U.S. government will lay out its antitrust case against Alphabet's Google on Friday in a second day of closing arguments focused on accusations that the online search leader broke the law to stay on top in search advertising. The largest US antitrust trial since regulators went after Microsoft a quarter century ago is set to resume with government and …

Why is Google on trial in the United States? | Explained
1 year, 6 months ago

Why is Google on trial in the United States? | Explained

The Hindu  

The story so far: On September 12, Justice Amit Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia started hearing what is being described as the most important case about the future of the Internet. The key allegation against Google is that its “arrangements” with Apple and other companies to be the default search engine on their devices, …

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades
1 year, 6 months ago

It's Google versus the US in the biggest antitrust trial in decades

The Independent  

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Google will confront a …

US takes on Google: What to know about biggest antitrust trial in decades
1 year, 6 months ago

US takes on Google: What to know about biggest antitrust trial in decades

Al Jazeera  

Google has grabbed a 90 percent market share in search in the US in recent years, the government estimates. A blockbuster antitrust trial is underway in Washington, DC, where the United States Department of Justice and a coalition of state attorneys general have accused Alphabet’s Google of unlawfully abusing its dominance in the search engine market to maintain monopoly power. …

United States takes on Google in biggest tech monopoly trial of 21st century
1 year, 6 months ago

United States takes on Google in biggest tech monopoly trial of 21st century

NPR  

United States takes on Google in biggest tech monopoly trial of 21st century Enlarge this image toggle caption Leon Neal/Getty Images Leon Neal/Getty Images The United States government is taking on one of the world's most powerful companies: Google. The Justice Department's case hinges on claims that Google illegally orchestrated its business dealings, so that it's the first search engine …

German regulator probes Google’s market position, data use
3 years, 9 months ago

German regulator probes Google’s market position, data use

Associated Press  

BERLIN — German regulators have launched an investigation into Google’s position in the market, and how the search engine and advertising giant handles user data. The Federal Cartel Office, or Bundeskartellamt, said Tuesday that it has started proceedings against Google entities in Germany, Ireland and California based on new provisions in German competition law that apply to large digital companies. …

Is Apple Speeding Up Search Engine Development As Google Comes Under Increased Antitrust Scrutiny?
4 years, 4 months ago

Is Apple Speeding Up Search Engine Development As Google Comes Under Increased Antitrust Scrutiny?

News 18  

Apple may be stepping up efforts to develop its own search engine. “They have a credible team that I think has the experience and the depth, if they wanted to, to build a more general search engine,” said Bill Coughran, Google’s former engineering chief and now partner at Silicon Valley investor Sequoia Capital, while speaking with FT. Have You Google …

The US government sues Google for alleged anticompetitive abuses in search
4 years, 5 months ago

The US government sues Google for alleged anticompetitive abuses in search

CNN  

Washington CNN Business — The Trump administration on Tuesday sued Google in what is the largest antitrust case against a tech company in more than two decades. “Nothing is off the table,” said Deputy Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen, who warned that if DOJ did not file suit now, “we could lose the next wave of innovation” and that “Americans may …

U.S. expected to sue Google next week as DOJ seeks support from states
4 years, 5 months ago

U.S. expected to sue Google next week as DOJ seeks support from states

The Hindu  

The U.S. Justice Department is expected to sue Alphabet's Google as soon as next week, and is currently urging state attorneys general to sign onto the lawsuit, according to three sources familiar with the process. The Justice Department has also been investigating Google's “search advertising,” the ads that appear under a search box if a person looks up a consumer …

DOJ nearing antitrust action on Google; Trump eyes tech curb
4 years, 6 months ago

DOJ nearing antitrust action on Google; Trump eyes tech curb

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — As the Trump administration moves toward antitrust action against search giant Google, it’s campaigning to enlist support from sympathetic state attorneys general across the country. “They’ve used this power to engage in unscrupulous business practices while simultaneously waging war on free enterprise and free expression.” The anticipated lawsuit against Google by the Justice Department could be the government’s …

FTC to look into past acquisitions of Google, Apple, Facebook and more
5 years, 1 month ago

FTC to look into past acquisitions of Google, Apple, Facebook and more

India TV News  

Amid growing calls for breaking down large technology companies, the US Federal Trade Commission is set to examine past acquisitions by five tech giants -- Alphabet Inc., Amazon.com, Inc., Apple Inc., Facebook, Inc., and Microsoft Corp. The FTC on Tuesday said it issued special orders to these five companies, requiring them to provide information about prior acquisitions not reported to …

Google antitrust probe to expand its investigation into Android business as well: Report
5 years, 4 months ago

Google antitrust probe to expand its investigation into Android business as well: Report

Firstpost  

Google probe is known to be focused on its search and digital advertising businesses. The 50 attorneys general investigating advertising practices at Alphabet Inc’s Google are planning to expand their antitrust probe into the unit’s flagship Android business, CNBC reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter. The Google probe is being led by the Texas attorney general’s office …

States target Google in new antitrust investigation
5 years, 6 months ago

States target Google in new antitrust investigation

LA Times  

The Google logo adorns the outside of its New York City office. Attorneys general from every U.S. state except California and Alabama have announced an investigation into Google’s “potential monopolistic behavior.” The announcement follows one from a separate group of states Friday that disclosed an investigation into Facebook Inc.’s market dominance. Google expects the state authorities to ask it about …

Here's an explainer on why Google is being hounded by the US antitrust regulators
5 years, 9 months ago

Here's an explainer on why Google is being hounded by the US antitrust regulators

Firstpost  

The US probe would focus on accusations Google gave preference to its own businesses in search results. The U.S. Justice Department is preparing an investigation of Alphabet Inc’s Google to determine whether the technology company violated laws to ensure fair competition, two sources familiar with the matter said. The US probe would focus on accusations Google gave preference to its …

Reports: Justice Dept. preparing antitrust probe of Google
5 years, 9 months ago

Reports: Justice Dept. preparing antitrust probe of Google

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department is readying an investigation of Google’s business practices and whether they violate antitrust law, according to news reports. Now the Justice Department has undertaken an antitrust probe of the company’s search and other businesses, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and Bloomberg News. In addition to the 2017 …

US preparing antitrust probe of Google: Report
5 years, 9 months ago

US preparing antitrust probe of Google: Report

Live Mint  

San Francisco: The US Department of Justice is preparing an antitrust investigation of Internet titan Google, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. Justice department officials share antitrust oversight with the Federal Trade Commission, which conducted a wide-ranging investigation of its own into Alphabet-owned Google that ended in 2013 with no action taken. The latest fine imposed by Brussels cited …

Google under scanner over alleged mishandling of customer data
7 years, 4 months ago

Google under scanner over alleged mishandling of customer data

New Indian Express  

WASHINGTON: Tech MNC Google has been brought under the scanner after Missouri’s attorney general Josh Hawley launched an investigation into an alleged mishandling of private customer data and manipulation of search results for personal marketing purposes. The probe follows a fine worth USD 2.7 billion that was levied on Google in June, along with a tighter noose around the influence …

Competition panel accuses Google of abusing search dominance
9 years, 6 months ago

Competition panel accuses Google of abusing search dominance

Live Mint  

Mumbai/ New Delhi: The Competition Commission of India has accused Google Inc of abusing its dominant position in online search, people with knowledge of the matter said, which if proven could force the US company to alter its practices in a key market or even pay a big fine. A preliminary report from the quasi-judicial regulatory body found fault with …

Microsoft quietly content as EU moves on Google
9 years, 11 months ago

Microsoft quietly content as EU moves on Google

Firstpost  

Microsoft Corp emanated an air of quiet satisfaction on Wednesday as European antitrust regulators readied charges against rival Google for abusing its monopoly power in the online search business. “They have to go through what they have to go through,” said one Microsoft general manager, who was closely involved in the company’s public relations at the time of Microsoft’s antitrust …

EU Charges Google With Antitrust Violations, Will Also Look At Android
9 years, 11 months ago

EU Charges Google With Antitrust Violations, Will Also Look At Android

NPR  

EU Charges Google With Antitrust Violations, Will Also Look At Android Enlarge this image toggle caption John Thys/AFP/Getty Images John Thys/AFP/Getty Images Saying that Google has abused its dominant position in the search market "by systematically favoring its own comparison shopping product," the European Commission has sent a list of antitrust charges to the search giant. Sponsor Message The EU's …

Canada's antitrust regulators scrutinising Google – Firstpost
11 years, 3 months ago

Canada's antitrust regulators scrutinising Google – Firstpost

Firstpost  

Government regulators in Canada are poised to open a formal investigation into whether Google is abusing Government regulators in Canada are poised to open a formal investigation into whether Google is abusing its dominance of the Internet search market to stifle competition and drive up digital advertising prices. Canada’s Competition Bureau indicated in a filing made in an Ottawa federal …

Google not doing enough to address anti-trust concerns: EU watchdog
11 years, 8 months ago

Google not doing enough to address anti-trust concerns: EU watchdog

Firstpost  

The EU’s competition chief says Google isn’t doing enough to overcome concerns that it’s stifling competition, and ordered the Internet giant to come up with new ideas Paris: The EU’s competition chief says Google isn’t doing enough to overcome concerns that it’s stifling competition, and ordered the Internet giant to come up with new ideas. The European Commission has been …

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition
11 years, 8 months ago

US FTC conducting preliminary inquiry into Google's Waze acquisition

Firstpost  

Antitrust regulators are conducting a preliminary inquiry into Google Inc’s recent acquisition of online mapping service Waze, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Google was able to close the deal without US regulatory approval because Waze’s revenue and assets in the US were below the $70.9 million threshold required for antitrust review. Google’s existing online mapping service …

Google finalising $1.3 billion deal for mapping company Waze
11 years, 9 months ago

Google finalising $1.3 billion deal for mapping company Waze

Firstpost  

Google is finalising a deal to acquire online mapping company Waze for $1.3 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter…. Google is finalising a deal to acquire online mapping company Waze for $1.3 billion, according to a source familiar with the matter. The deal with Google comes after discussions between Waze and social networking company Facebook fell apart …

Google moves to end EU antitrust probe without fine
11 years, 11 months ago

Google moves to end EU antitrust probe without fine

Firstpost  

Google has formally submitted a package of concessions to European Union competition regulators in a move to settle a two-year antitrust investigation… Google has formally submitted a package of concessions to European Union competition regulators in a strong signal that the world’s No. On this basis, Google then made a formal submission of commitments to the Commission,” said Antoine Colombani, …

Google moves closer to resolving EU investigation
12 years, 1 month ago

Google moves closer to resolving EU investigation

Firstpost  

Google has offered to take specific steps to ally competition regulators’ concerns about its business practices, in a major move towards ending a two-year investigation and avoiding billions of dollars in fines. The European Commission said on Friday it had received detailed proposals from the world’s most popular search engine, which has been under investigation following complaints from more than …

EU says its Google case not affected by U.S. ruling
12 years, 2 months ago

EU says its Google case not affected by U.S. ruling

Firstpost  

A decision by U.S regulators to end a probe into whether Google Inc hurt rivals by manipulating internet searches… A decision by U.S regulators to end a probe into whether Google Inc hurt rivals by manipulating internet searches will not affect the European Union’s examination of the company. “We have taken note of the FTC decision, but we don’t see …

Google emerges from FTC probe relatively unscathed
12 years, 2 months ago

Google emerges from FTC probe relatively unscathed

Firstpost  

Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions… Google has settled a U.S. government probe into its business practices without making any major concessions on how the company runs its Internet search engine, the world’s most influential gateway to digital information and commerce. “However, the FTC’s mission is to protect competition, and …

FTC Slaps Google's Wrist in Search, Patent Probe
12 years, 2 months ago

FTC Slaps Google's Wrist in Search, Patent Probe

Wired  

Federal regulators concluded Thursday a 19-month probe into Google's search and patent-licensing practices, and in the end took no action against Google's search rankings that favor its own products over competitors. "They hadn't engaged in illegal monopolization and hadn't violated the FTC Act," Jon Leibowitz, the commission's chairman, said at a news conference while referring to Google's search algorithm. Regarding …

FTC could make final decision on Google probe this week
12 years, 2 months ago

FTC could make final decision on Google probe this week

Firstpost  

The Federal Trade Commission could make a final decision this week on whether to settle with Google in an anti-trust investigation… The Federal Trade Commission could make a final decision this week on whether to settle with Google in an anti-trust investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The FTC may make a call on …

Anti-trust probe: FTC could take final decision on Google this week
12 years, 2 months ago

Anti-trust probe: FTC could take final decision on Google this week

Firstpost  

The Federal Trade Commission could make a final decision this week on whether to settle with Google in an anti-trust investigation, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing people familiar with the matter. The WSJ said the FTC was close to completing its investigation into Google’s search practices when Google offered to make voluntary changes similar to the settlement it reached …

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties
12 years, 2 months ago

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties

NPR  

FTC Closes Google Antitrust Investigation Without Penalties An antitrust probe of Google by the Federal Trade Commission has ended. The search giant avoided any financial penalties, and the FTC's move is widely seen as a victory for Google. For Google, the biggest treat to its business was that the FTC might decide to bring a formal antitrust case against Google …

Solving ‘the Google problem’ key to ensuring the Internet’s success
12 years, 3 months ago

Solving ‘the Google problem’ key to ensuring the Internet’s success

CNN  

Editor’s Note: Story highlights U.S. and EU regulators met in Brussels this week to discuss "the Google problem" They were considering whether its dominance of the search market may be illegal Keen says they need to decide soon whether to pursue anti-trust lawsuits He says it is important to ensure entrepreneurial innovation is allowed to flourish CNN — Many of …

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