The Department of Justice antitrust chief gave a speech yesterday that should make tech nervous, particularly Google and Facebook. Then, why Google and Facebook’s scale defense is not sufficient.
Tech and Antitrust
A review of the potential antitrust cases against Google, Apple, Facebook, and Amazon suggests that only Google is vulnerable.
U.S. Department of Justice Preparing Investigation of Google?; The DoJ, Google, and Politics; The Antitrust Indicator
Google is potentially facing antitrust action in the U.S., and both Democrats and Republicans appear to be on board. Then, why antitrust action, even if justified, is usually an indicator of decline, not a cause.
Apple Defends App Store, Apple’s App Store Motivations
Apple defends the App Store, with has genuine benefits, rather unconvincingly. Then, an illuminating interview about Apple’s App Store motivations.
The Supreme Court Rules Against Apple, In Favor of the Dissent, The Implications of Apple v Pepper
The antitrust case against the Apple App Store is going to move forward. It’s the wrong decision, and the reasons why explain why new legislation is needed.
Chris Hughes Versus Facebook, Breaking Down Hughes Article, The Privacy Paradox
Breaking down the Chris Hughes article about breaking up Facebook: it’s better than you think. Plus, the fundamental paradox when it comes to arguments about regulating Facebook.
Mark Zuckerberg’s Proposal, The Copyright Directive and Sunk Costs, You Say You Want Some Regulation
Recent regulation highlights why Mark Zuckerberg’s call for regulation was so self-serving. The place where regulators should actually start is advertising.
Google Fined by the EU, Contracts and the Android Decision, Custom Search and the Shopping Decision
The EU has again fined Google for anticompetitive behavior. At first glance this looks like the Android decision, but I think the better comparison is the shopping decision, which I believe was wrong.
Where Warren’s Wrong Follow-up, Amazon’s Price Parity Provision, The Amazon Marketplace Question
More on Senator Warren’s tech antitrust proposal, why regulatory focus should be on contracts, and why 3rd-parties benefit from Amazon Marketplace.
Where Warren’s Wrong
Senator Warren’s proposal about how to regulate tech is wrong about history, the source of tech giant’s power, and the fundamental nature of technology itself. That doesn’t mean there aren’t real problems — and potential solutions — though.