Page 12 - aruba-today-20201021

A12 Technology
Wednesday 21 OctOber 2020
5 takeaways from the government's lawsuit against Google

By BARBARA ORTUTAY DEJA VU?
AP Technology Writer The Justice Department's
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — lawyers "filed the strongest
The Justice Department's suit they have," said Colum-
lawsuit against Google al- bia law professor Tim Wu,
leging antitrust violations who called it almost a car-
marks the government's bon copy of the govern-
most significant attempt to ment's 1998 lawsuit against
protect competition since Microsoft. Back then,
its groundbreaking case Google cast itself as the
against Microsoft more underdog fighting against
than 20 years ago. The the technological bully —
lawsuit claims Google has Microsoft. The Justice De-
abused its dominance in partment's case against
online search and adver- Google revolves around
tising to stifle competition the company bundling
and harm consumers. products around its domi-
Here are five things to know nant position in search —
about the lawsuit and what much like the case against
might be coming down the Microsoft 22 years ago re-
line. volved around its bundling
___ of other products around
WHAT IS THE GOVERN- Windows.
MENT'S CASE? In this April 17, 2007 file photo, exhibitors work on laptop computers in front of an illuminated sign "Back then, Google
Lawmakers and consumer of the Google logo at the industrial fair Hannover Messe in Hanover, Germany. Associated Press claimed Microsoft's prac-
advocates have long ac- tices were anticompetitive,
cused Google, whose cor- New York, Colorado, Iowa, Chrome browser is the most any attempt to force it to and yet, now, Google de-
porate parent Alphabet Nebraska, North Carolina, popular in the world and spin off its services into sep- ploys the same playbook
Inc. has a market value Tennessee and Utah re- helps drive even more traf- arate businesses. to sustain its own monopo-
just over $1 trillion, of abus- leased a statement Mon- fic to its search engine and ___ lies," the lawsuit reads. "But
ing its dominance in online day saying they have not other products, while also HELPFUL OR HARMFUL? Google did learn one thing
search and advertising concluded their investiga- collecting valuable insights While the government's from Microsoft — to choose
to stifle competition and tion into Google and would into what sites people visit, lawsuit claims Google's its words carefully to avoid
boost its profits. The govern- want to consolidate their helping Google sell even power is harming people by antitrust scrutiny.
ment's lawsuit alleges that case with the Justice De- more advertising. stifling rivals, the company, Referring to a notorious line
Google uses billions of dol- partment's if they decide "Google is the gateway to based in Mountain View, from the Microsoft case,
lars collected from adver- to file. the internet and a search California, has long denied Google's Chief Economist
tisers to pay phone manu- "It's a bipartisan statement," advertising behemoth," U.S. the claims of unfair compe- wrote: 'We should be care-
facturers to ensure Google said spokesman Fabien Deputy Attorney General tition. Google argues that ful about what we say in
is the default search engine Levy of the New York State Jeff Rosen told reporters. "It although its businesses are both public and private.
on browsers. attorney general's office. has maintained its monop- large, they are useful and 'Cutting off the air supply'
Eleven states, all with Re- "There's things that still need oly power through exclu- beneficial to consumers. It and similar phrases should
publican attorneys gener- to be fleshed out, basical- sionary practices that are maintains that its services be avoided.'"
al, joined the federal gov- ly." harmful to competition." face ample competition If the government wins its
ernment in the suit. ___ But the company has been and have unleashed inno- case, history could repeat
___ IS GOOGLE A MONOPOLY? bracing for the govern- vations that help people itself and Google could see
WHO STAYED OUT OF IT? Google controls about 90% ment's action and is ex- manage their lives. some of its most popular
The attorneys general of of global web searches. Its pected to fiercely oppose ___ services unbundled. q

Sweden bans Huawei, ZTE from 5G, calls China biggest threat

works after a top security The agency said the condi- China's communist rulers to
official called China one tions were based on assess- facilitate cyberespionage.
of the country's biggest ments by the Swedish mili- The company has consis-
threats. tary and security service. tently denied the accusa-
The Swedish telecom regu- Huawei said it was "sur- tions.
lator said Tuesday that four prised and disappointed" New 5G networks, which
wireless carriers bidding for by the rules. are expected to usher in a
frequencies in an upcom- Sweden is the latest coun- wave of innovation such as
ing spectrum auction for try to prohibit Huawei from smart factories and remote
the new 5G networks must playing a role in building surgery, are considered
not use equipment from 5G networks and its deci- critical infrastructure. Klas
Huawei or ZTE. sion is likely to add to ten- Friberg, the head of Swe-
Wireless carriers that plan sions between the Chinese den's domestic security ser-
In this Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 file photo, attendees wearing to use existing telecommu- government and Western vice, known as SAPO, said
face masks to protect against the coronavirus walk past a booth
from Chinese technology firm Huawei at the PT Expo in Beijing. nications infrastructure for powers. U.S. officials have Tuesday that foreign pow-
Associated Press 5G networks must also rip waged an intense lobby- ers have intensified their
out any existing gear from ing campaign in Europe to intelligence activity in re-
By KELVIN CHAN tech companies Huawei Huawei or ZTE, the Swedish persuade allies to shun the cent years so 5G networks
Associated Press and ZTE from building new Post and Telecom Authority company, saying Huawei should be built in a secure
Sweden is banning Chinese high-speed wireless net- said. could be compelled by way from the start. q