FTC Accuses Facebook of Social Media Monopoly, Calls for Divestiture of Instagram and WhatsApp

[Tech198]

i guess this is what happens when money becomes the major point. "We are the biggest,, and you can't play"

 

[MrTemple]

Ok, good. So there's a limit to how badly you're willing to abuse the principles of rule of law. False accusations of murder against an individual make you uncomfortable, but you're still comfortable with false accusations of monopoly against a corporation if it "breaks up the hegemonic power" the "megacorps wield".

It's sounding a little Mr. Robot for my taste, but ok.


I don't think there's a very bright line between governments that enlist those two false accusations. I have real problems with the Facebook behaviors you're describing, but misapplying anti-trust law isn't going to solve it. And if your implication is that Facebook is so powerful that we can't get privacy legislation enforced, why do you think we'll get anti-trust legislation enforced?

Twisting the justice system to selectively break up companies you don't like for whatever reason, doesn't actually address the reason you don't like them, doesn't prevent that bad behavior from happening elsewhere, and is begging for further corrupt application of law.

Seems this guy just enjoys talking to himself.

 

[Analog Kid]

Seems this guy just enjoys talking to himself.

Seems you‘re simply unable to support your position. The mocking laugh response isn’t as effective a form of rhetoric as you may think.

 

[Ethosik]

One of the most recent ones I can think of is DarkSky. Apple bought it then basically told Android users sorry not sorry you're out of luck. With a high profile weather app purchase like that, Apple is hoping iOS users will use it as the stock weather app and stop purchasing third party weather apps.

There are literally dozens if not hundreds of weather and radar apps on both Android and iOS. If Apple was really doing an anti-competitive move, they would have killed EVERY ONE OF THEM. I still have plenty I can choose from and not use DarkSky which IMO is not that good.

 

[Ethosik]

Ok now I see. What you are saying is Apple can buy any company it wants and limit all the competition as long as it doesn't buy a major player on the same scale as Facebook. It's ok to put small companies out of businesses by limiting competition, just don't do it to big companies. Got it. And this is not all just speculation. I read an article a while back about a bunch of smaller weather companies whose sales went way down after the purchase and were worried about their future viability. Not to mention all the Android users who bought Dark Sky and were left out to dry by Apple.

How are they limiting competition? Have you looked at the App Store for weather and radar apps? Dozens of not hundreds are available. Competition is RIGHT THERE you know. DarkSkye IMO is not the OMG BEST APP EVER like people seem to think. I prefer Carrot - so there is competition right there and its on Android too.

 

[Ethosik]

Target doesn't go to their suppliers saying they can only sell in targets store.

Really? Apple didn't approach me telling me I CANNOT sell my app on Android's Google Play store.

I do not know why so many people make these arguments. You cannot make a market TOO narrow to fit your argument.

I have some peanut butter I want to sell. I have both Target and Walmart as options. Obviously I have more but let's just list those two.

Similarly, I have a mobile app I would like to sell. What are my options? Ohhhh that is right, iOS and Android. So iOS does not go to developers saying I can only sell apps on iOS devices.

What people should really compare this to, is if I wanted to use the same infrastructure Target has to create my own Peanut Butter store INSIDE Target. And Target doesn't get money from me.

If you turn around and say that argument does not fly then you cannot keep switching markers to fit your argument. Is it an iOS app or a Mobile app? If its an iOS app that you feel IS the market, then lets also go after Sony and Microsoft as they own everything for Xbox and Playstation markets. Yes even physical media as I need to pay for licensing from Microsoft and Sony.