Have you ever felt like Google skewed their search results to favor those they deemed worthy? Or have you ever noticed how Google’s products dominate their verticals? Well you’re not alone. Others have noticed Google’s favoritism too.
In fact, the FTC has taken serious interest in the search giant. So much so that they’d like to sue Google over it’s favoritism.
Four of the FTC commissioners have become convinced after more than a year of investigation that Google illegally used its dominance of the search market to hurt its rivals, while one commissioner is skeptical, the sources said.
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As you are well aware – The sites in the top positions (both paid and organic) get the clicks from the search engines. There’s now a huge list of companies complaining that Google is thwarting competition by burying their search results underneath their own.
The FTC carries with it a stigma of one part brutal enforcer and one part corporate parriah. There are not too many companies out there that would like you to know their relationships with the FTC. It’s sort of like admitting you’re a narc. It’s bad for business.
Surprisingly though there are a number of companies that have publicly spoken out regarding this case. Yelp and Nextag have both been vocal on the subject in Congressional hearings.
What’s not surprising is the verticals that are most irate over the issue. They just so happen to be verticals that Google has a strong presence in.
Google rivals specializing in travel, shopping and entertainment have accused Google, the world’s No. 1 search engine, of unfairly giving their web sites low quality rankings in search results
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When you’re number one in any industry there’s always going to be someone that wants to bring you down a peg. Whether Google intentionally does the things their being accused of or not – there in for a long expensive legal battle.
Do you think Google is a monopoly? Why or why not?
Google is a bully that is bent on killing off all competition. It is unfortunately a big part of being a for profit corporation. Google is the Monsanto of the search industry and I hope the FTC kicks their ass. Albeit, Google has billions of dollars to spread around and given the fraud and corruption of all governmental agencies, including the FTC, there is little chance in my opinion that the FTC will pursue Google.
I fully agree, there should be something to level the playing field.
The giant has grown too powerful and the means and money to restrain
such monopoly is not easy now. Bing and Yahoo may do something but
my guess is it is the users that decide and Google continues to thrive.
yes google is doing the monopoly business among different companies in the field of advertising..they are generating high revenues from thier campaign and gives its partners a little bit of it..shame google..shame
*they’re