My abstract for the linked article
The DOJ has finally posted meeting notes from a Google vice president that the company tried to conceal during an antitrust trial. In the notes, Michael Roszak likened Google’s search advertising business model to illicit drug markets in its profitability. Roszak claimed the notes were exaggerated and not his true beliefs. The document suggests Google was able to ignore consumer demand due to its search monopoly. This concerned the DOJ that Google lacks incentives to protect user privacy and innovation. While Google said the notes don’t reflect its views, the judge found them relevant and embarrassing. He denied redactions and released Roszak’s related testimony. The parties agreed Google could object to exhibit posts, otherwise the DOJ could post them after each trial day.
The DOJ then posted Roszak’s notes, allowing the public to read the content at the center of debate.
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The document in question contains meeting notes that Google’s vice president for finance, Michael Roszak, “created for a course on communications,” Bloomberg reported.
Sealing Roszak’s testimony made it harder for the public to understand the context of the document, Mehta worried.
Part of the DOJ’s case argues that because Google has a monopoly over search, it’s less incentivized to innovate products that protect consumers from harm like invasive data collection.
A Google spokesman told Bloomberg that Roszak’s statements “don’t reflect the company’s opinion” and “were drafted for a public speaking class in which the instructions were to say something hyperbolic and attention-grabbing.”
According to Bloomberg, Google lawyer Edward Bennett told the court that Roszak’s notes suggest that the senior executive’s plan for his presentation was essentially “cosplaying Gordon Gekko”—a movie villain who symbolizes corporate greed from 1987’s Wall Street.
The debate over how much of Roszak’s notes could be shared with the public ended with an agreement between the DOJ and Google on all trial exhibits.
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Huh, is this the start of a new post-platform era where we see such business models the way we now see cigarettes?
Well, I switched to DDG after last time someone said it’s doing a much better job then Google’s now. So I’ve switched all my defaults to DDG. On the contrary, users don’t mind which search engine, as long as they give proper results efficiently.
Google’s search result is honestly worse atm.
It actually is a (little) better than Google now. I don’t think it’s better enough for people to change their habits, but it is better.
I use Startpage. It’s anonymous like DDG, but uses Google on the back-end. Results feel more like old Google than the modern overly-personalized Google results
Hadn’t heard of it. Looks interesting, but it’s owned by a company that
as a “Responsive Acquisition Marketing Platform.”
That got a very big eyebrow raise from me.
I’ve switched to paid search with Kagi. Best standard feature is I can tell Kagi to block w3schools, mediumDOTcom and stackoverflow from my search results.
I hope I could block pinterest
Absolutely doable.
My father was alive - and a smoker! - when the FDA issued its warning about the risks of smoking tobacco in the late 1950s.
He was still smoking four packs a day in the 1970s. He died young as a result.
Google’s statement is somewhat hyperbole in comparison to physical addiction. But Google is abusing their position and market dominance. Antitrust enforcement is warranted.
