Oh Google and Europe. Sometimes I think it’s going to be just like in the movies and at the height of their loud, screaming argument, they’ll just start totally making out. European regulators are giving Google a couple of weeks to provide substantive reasons why it’s not abusing its power as the dominant search engine on the market. It mostly has to do with whether and how Google gives preferential treatment to its own products in search results.
At issue, according to the BBC:
– The manner in which Google displays “its own vertical search services differently” from other, competing products.
– How Google “copies content” from other websites – such as restaurant reviews – to include within their own services.
– The “exclusivity” Google has to sell advertising around search terms people use.
– Restrictions surrounding portability of advertising content which prevents “seamless transfer” to other non-Google platforms.
Now, Europe is much more protective than the US, more likely to favor a heavy regulatory hand, but these charges have been made against Google here too. Would a big ruling against the company, or an overhaul on Google’s part, change Google As We Know It? Don’t answer! Rhetorical question!
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