Posted on 07/20/2018 8:22:30 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
In what has now become a tiresome routine, European Union "Competition Commissioner" Margrethe Vestager has once again slapped an American company with a massive fine for the heinous crime of out-competing EU companies. The EU complains about U.S. tariffs, but this move to punish Google with a $5 billion antitrust fine is straight up protectionism.
"Stop this behavior," Vestager told the firm. What behavior is that? Giving consumers ever-more options for their tablets, phones and computers at a lower price? The fine, after all, is for "abusing the dominance of its Android mobile operating system."
The argument is that by giving consumers a whole bunch of stuff together, like the Chrome web browser, Gmail and Google search, consumers are being harmed.
Of course, that's a crazy assertion, since consumers had no access to any of these things until Google provided them. Vestager should be called the "Anti-Competition Commissioner," since her decision to fine Google only helps its European competitors, not EU consumers.
"Harmful competition," as the European Union calls it, is an empty phrase. Any competition in which one competitor bests another can be called "harmful," since there's a winner and a loser.
In the case of the EU, many firms there have lost their battles with American firms over market share. They whine, the EU reacts, and American firms pay up.
But this is how EU protectionism now works. And it's a big reason why President Trump, whether you agree with his tariffs or not (and for the record, we don't), is at least not a hypocrite in imposing them.
The EU talks a good game about globalism and free trade, but then subverts those very ideas with non-transparent protectionist actions like massive fines on U.S. tech champions.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
I see it as, quite literally, “protection money”.
That’s a nice business you have there. It would be a shame is something was to happen to it.
What I would do, just to twist them around a little....I’d turn off Google to any EU ip address, for seven days. Lock it down for the 28 members of the EU. When it comes back up? I’d have the IP for the EU headquarters, and forbid connectivity to any Google service.
Another rerun of the BS about Microsoft bundling explorer with the windows operating system.
The USA should fine the EU $10 billion.
RE: Another rerun of the BS about Microsoft bundling explorer with the windows operating system.
Out of curiosity, does anyone know any product developed in the EU that competes with Android and iPhone?
Canada even had the Blackberry before. What does the EU have?
Also, for Operating Systems, what does the EU have to compete against Windows the MacOS and Linux? ( Yeah Linux was developed by Europeans, but the original developers moved to the USA ).
Google is a globalist company that promotes censorship and political correctness; they do not support US sovereign interests.
Of course, the EU hates US hegemony & sovereignty. They are also heavy promoters of censorship and PC.
This is simply a red on red power struggle for global dominance.
>>Another rerun of the BS about Microsoft bundling explorer with the windows operating system.
Not really. On Android, Chrome can be uninstalled. It’s not an “integral part of the operating system”.
Google is pure evil, and they are predatory, engage in egregious, illegal anti-competitive practices against their business rivals and small defenseless businesses. The EU should be fining Google $100 Billion not just $5 Billion.
Google is pure evil, and they are predatory, engage in egregious, illegal anti-competitive practices against their business rivals and small defenseless businesses. The EU should be fining Google $100 Billion not just $5 Billion.
Screw Google. They hate conservatives and President Trump and they worship at the altar of EU fascism.
They asked for it and now they’ve received it.
Serves them right.
RE: Screw Google. They hate conservatives and President Trump and they worship at the altar of EU fascism.
What about this instead : A POX ON BOTH THEIR HOUSES.
I have no love for Google but this 5 billion dollar fine is pure theft. The scum in the EU bureaucracies need to get paid their bloated salaries so they will raid Google to get the cash.
Like a cop that is told to give out tickets or there is not enough money to keep him employed by the town.
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