Google CEO Says Antitrust Remedies Would Cripple Google Search

[MacRumors]

Google and the United States Justice Department are back in court to fight over the remedies that will be implemented to address Google's search monopoly, and Google CEO Sundar Pichai today took the stand to defend Google.

The DoJ wants Google to divest its Chrome browser, refrain from making search engine agreements like the one Google has with Apple, and share "critical portions" of its search data with competitors at a "marginal cost," including how it ranks search results and query understanding information. According to Pichai, these remedies would essentially mean the end of Google search.

As outlined by The New York Times, Pichai said that if Google had to share data, the company wouldn't likely continue to invest in search. "The combination of all the remedies, I think, makes it unviable to invest in R&D the way we have for the past three decades, to continue to innovate and build Google search," he said. He suggested that Google would not be able to fund "all the innovation" that the company puts into search.

Pichai said that the data sharing requirement would be a "de facto divestiture" of Google's intellectual property. With that information, Pichai claimed that any company could "completely reverse engineer, end to end, every aspect of [Google's] technology stack." He said that the DoJ's proposal that Google share its data is "extraordinary" and "far reaching."

Google wants to be able to continue to make search engine deals like the one it has with Apple, according to Pichai, though he suggested those deals could be renegotiated on an annual basis and that those deals would not be exclusive. Google's upcoming deal to add Gemini to the iPhone along with OpenAI was cited as an example of Google's new deal making policy.

Judge Amit Mehta, who is overseeing the case, will consider testimony from both Google and the DoJ before he provides remedies. A decision is expected by August, and Google will undoubtedly appeal, so the case is likely to take many more years to play out.

Article Link: Google CEO Says Antitrust Remedies Would Cripple Google Search

 

[smithrh]

Good.

 

[HouseLannister]

*waves hands in air* ...That's the idea.

 

[Sanlitun]

Not seeing the problem. Google search has become a giant selective upsell.

 

[driphone]

It's about time!

 

[Eriamjh1138@DAN]

Google search is already crippled. It’s just good for searching for AdWords unrelated to real information.

 

[usersince86]

... Antitrust Remedies Would Cripple Google Search Profits​

Fixed that for ya.

 

[StuBeck]

I believe their investment in anything is questionable, especially when you have services killed off by them on a weekly basis that users are still using. I also thought this was the whole idea of them renaming themselves to Alphabet, because they did so much outside of just search. Surly that means they'll be OK with this?

 

[jz0309]

I would not have expected for him to say anything else.
Google does not invest in search for a better experience but to collect more data for the user so they can place ads in your face.

 

[attohs]

He suggested that Google would not be able to fund "all the innovation" that the company puts into search.

All that innovation to bury what use to appear on page 1 onto page 7 of search results.

 

[Daalseth]

Yes, AND???
That’s kinda the idea

 

[axboi87]

I’m hoping Apple continues to do the right thing here and develop products that totally up-end and outright block out targeted advertising and data collection. They don’t need the money generated from those things so it wouldn’t hurt them any.

 

[Wx_Man]

LOL..you guys have ALREADY crippled your OWN search engine ! I would imagine you would like the government’s help in doing more.

 

[Mousse]

share "critical portions" of its search data with competitors at a "marginal cost," including how it ranks search results and query understanding information.

While I agree with the other concession demands, this one is BS. Does Coca-Cola have to share its formula for Coke with Pepsi? Does KFC have to share its secret 11 herbs and spices recipe with Popeye's or Church's? Google worked hard to perfect the search ranking*. It should benefit from it.

*I think the secret sauce is $$$. You buy the top 2-3 spots on the search listing.😆

 

[ifxf]

It is already crippled with AI, trending searches, People also ask, People are saying, People also search.

 

[sfrsteel]

Couldn't happen to a more evil company.. Pretty ironic for a company that used to have the motto "Don't be evil"

 

[Capeto]

Google already did a fantastic job of crippling Google search. Have you tried using it in the past two years or so?

 

[sfrsteel]

It is already crippled with AI, trending searches, People also ask, People are saying, People also search.

This can mostly be fixed by using this string as your default search engine.
https://www.google.com/search?udm=14&q=%s

 

[Spunk Bubble]

Good.

 

[Ctrlos]

So no frequently wrong AI summary, no need for smaller websites to game the system just to survive and rankings based on the old system?

Sign me up!

 

[rp2011]

Hell yeah it would. They had a good little gig there with their little one-two combo.
It would cripple their steady never ending flood of money.
They would have to operate like a traditional business instead of an unchallegable monopoly gravy train where they did not have to lift a finger to get it.

 

[rp2011]

It was good while it lasted.

 

[sfrsteel]

While I agree with the other concession demands, this one is BS. Does Coca-Cola have to share its formula for Coke with Pepsi? Does KFC have to share its secret 11 herbs and spices recipe with Popeye's or Church's? Google worked hard to perfect the search ranking*. It should benefit from it.

*I think the secret sauce is $$$. You buy the top 2-3 spots on the search listing.😆

Actually Coke is not a good example.. The Coca-Cola secret is only its brand and being able to produce at volume.. You can't compete with Coke on price/ROA for the same taste.. Shasta is a great example of this.. They produce beverages that are flavor knock offs of DR Pepper, Mtn Dew, Coke.. etc.. some (not me, would say the flavor profiles are exact) Heck they even knock off the Name, almost, and color pallet.. They get as close to that trade mark as possible and have gone to court several time. But they cant compete on price/ROA..

 

[sfrsteel]

I believe their investment in anything is questionable, especially when you have services killed off by them on a weekly basis that users are still using. I also thought this was the whole idea of them renaming themselves to Alphabet, because they did so much outside of just search. Surly that means they'll be OK with this?

LOL Those services are killed because they are not profitable. Much like Disney.. or most Corp questions... What is the profit margin how long is my ROi. To be honest.. If i started a small business though, i would be thinking the same questions... What are my margins, how long will it take to pay back my investment. So when google makes an App or Service and they cant figure out how to sell "you" as their service they shut it down. With all "free" products.. You are the service they are selling. I think for the most part Apple has done well in charging you for service, or building the service fee as part of the product cost and leaning away from selling "you" although i am sure on some levels you are still a product..

 

[honglong1976]

Biggest threat to search, AI!