The Japan Fair Trade Commission issued a cease-and-desist order to Google for violating Japanese anti-monopoly law. This unprecedented action targets Google’s practice of requiring pre-installation of its apps on Android phones, hindering competition from rival search engines. This marks the first such order against a GAFAM company in Japan. The commission cited Google’s actions as creating significant barriers to entry for competitors in the Android mobile market.
Read More
Elon Musk’s lawsuit against several major advertisers, alleging antitrust violations for withdrawing advertising from X (formerly Twitter), highlights a contradiction in his professed support for free speech and free markets. The suit claims the advertisers colluded to boycott X due to concerns over its content moderation policies, causing financial harm to the platform. However, this action constitutes a legitimate market response to perceived risks and is a form of protected expression, not an antitrust violation. Musk’s argument contradicts his purported dedication to free market principles by seeking to compel private companies to continue advertising on his platform regardless of their concerns.
Read More
The Justice Department, alongside ten states, is suing six major landlords for allegedly colluding to inflate rents. This alleged scheme involved sharing sensitive pricing data and utilizing an algorithm, RealPage, to coordinate rent increases across 1.3 million units. The landlords are accused of prioritizing profit over affordability, exacerbating the ongoing housing crisis impacting millions of Americans. One landlord has agreed to a settlement, while others deny wrongdoing and plan to vigorously defend themselves. The lawsuit aims to curb anti-competitive practices and make housing more affordable.
Read More
Tyson Foods’ closure of its Dexter, Missouri plant resulted in hundreds of job losses and devastated contract farmers like Shawn Hinkle, who now faces bankruptcy due to unfulfilled contracts. A lawsuit alleges Tyson colluded with Cal-Maine Foods to purchase the plant, preventing competition and forcing farmers into unfavorable new contracts with a non-compete clause. This coordination, along with alleged attempts to intimidate farmers and suppress media coverage, is under scrutiny in ongoing litigation. The lawsuit claims Tyson acted to limit competition and inflate prices, leveraging its considerable market share within the poultry industry.
Read More
In short, Canada’s Competition Bureau is suing Google for alleged anti-competitive practices in online advertising, seeking a court order forcing the sale of two ad tech tools and financial penalties. The Bureau alleges Google abused its dominant market position to maintain its power. Google counters that the complaint overlooks robust competition and the benefits its ad tech provides to businesses and websites. This action mirrors a similar U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit, though Google contests those claims as well.
Read More
In response to a Bloomberg report, Google vehemently opposes a Department of Justice proposal to force the sale of Chrome browser, arguing it would negatively impact consumers and businesses. This proposed remedy, to be presented to Judge Amit Mehta, follows his August ruling that Google holds an online search monopoly. Further, Google objects to additional proposed measures concerning its AI practices, Android OS, and data usage. The company contends these actions would undermine American technological competitiveness.
Read More
The Department of Justice’s reported plan to force Google to sell off Chrome is a move that raises many questions. The sustainability of an independent Chrome browser is a serious concern. Existing independent browsers like Mozilla Firefox heavily rely on revenue sharing agreements with Google, illustrating the challenges of competing without the backing of a tech giant. A standalone Chrome would likely need to become even more advertiser-friendly or accept continued financial support from larger companies, potentially negating any improvements to the current market dynamics. The absence of details in the reports regarding consumer benefits further fuels these doubts.
The timing of the DOJ’s action is also questionable.… Continue reading
A Russian court has fined Google two undecillion roubles ($20 undecillion), a fine that is significantly larger than Google’s worth and the world’s total GDP. The fine, which is constantly increasing, has been imposed because Google restricted Russian state media channels on YouTube. Google has not yet responded to the fine.
Read More
Former YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki dies after battling cancer. The news of her passing at the age of 56 comes as a shock to many, especially considering her significant impact on the tech industry. Wojcicki’s journey began in 1998 when she rented out her garage to Google’s founders, eventually leading to her role as the company’s first marketing manager. Her foresight in suggesting the acquisition of YouTube in 2006 paved the way for her appointment as CEO in 2014.
The sudden and tragic death of her son earlier this year compounded the family’s grief, making this year particularly challenging for them.… Continue reading
As a long-time user of Google, I have seen the evolution of the search engine over the years. From its early days of providing a plethora of search results to its current state of inundating users with AI-generated blog articles and ads, Google has undergone a significant transformation. The recent news of Google losing a massive antitrust lawsuit over its search dominance is both surprising and not surprising at the same time.
The idea of Google losing its grip on the search market seems almost unimaginable, given its ubiquitous presence in our daily lives. However, as a consumer who has experienced the frustration of sifting through spammy search results and irrelevant ads, I can’t help but feel a sense of vindication.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood