On Thursday, European Union lawmakers unanimously backed a motion urging anti-trust regulators to break up Google. When the motion was hinted at a few days ago, it received harsh criticism.
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The problems between Google and EU began in 2010.
The non-binding resolution in the European Parliament is the definitive public signal of Europe’s concern with the growing power of US tech giants. It was passed with 384 votes for and 174 against.The European Parliament is calling for a creation of a single digital market in Europe for the purpose of:
Increasing tax revenues
Promoting “non-discriminatory online search”
Preventing the “secondary exploitation” of search data
Developing uniform rules for cloud computing
Promoting net neutrality
German conservative lawmaker and co-sponsor of the bill Andreas Schwab said it was a political signal to the European Commission, which is tasked with ensuring a level playing field for business across the 28-country bloc.
“Monopolies in whatever market have never been useful, neither for consumers nor for the companies,” he said.
He further went on to say that he had nothing against Google and that he is in fact a regular user.
“I use Google every day,” he said.
The decision has also been critisiced by some politicians.
“Parliament should not be engaging in anti-Google resolutions, inspired by a heavy lobby of Google competitors or by anti-free market ideology, but ensure fair competition and consumer choice,” said lawmaker Sophie in’t Veld from the Parliament’s ALDE liberal group.
European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager has said she will review the case and talk to complainants before deciding on the next step.
EU attempted to slimy about the resolution by not mentioning Google or any specific search engines but with Google commanding an estimated 90 percent market share in Europe, it is not hard to decipher who EU is targeting. What would be interesting will be will all search engines abide by the motion and break away from companies.
Lobbying group Computer & Communications Industry Association, whose members include Google, eBay Facebook, Microsoft and Samsung, is also concerned about the implications of this decision. The group said unbundling was an “extreme and unworkable” solution that made no sense in rapidly changing online markets.
“While clearly targeting Google, the parliament is in fact suggesting all search companies, or online companies with a search facility, may need to be separated. This is of great concern as we try to create a digital single market,” it said.
It is not clear at the moment how this will affect Google. Lately Google has been finding solutions to problems have long plagued the universe with its Google X division, by comparison, this appears a problem that might hit the company but a solution will beckon in no time.
Google has declined to comment.
