TL;DR

Google’s near-monopoly was challenged, and while there’s a small victory against anti-competitive practices, the fight for true competition is far from over. The case serves as a stark warning against unchecked corporate power.

Story

The Big G’s Reign: How Google’s near-monopoly almost crumbled.

John, a small business owner, relied on Google Ads to reach customers. He watched helplessly as Google’s dominance stifled competition, driving up ad costs. His story is one of many reflecting the chilling reality of Google’s market power.

The Department of Justice alleged that Google used its Chrome browser to create a self-sustaining monopoly—a closed-loop system. Think of it as a digital fortress. They used exclusive search deals to lock out competitors, making it virtually impossible for smaller search engines to gain traction. It was a textbook case of predatory pricing, reminiscent of the tactics used by Standard Oil a century ago. ‣ Predatory pricing: Setting prices low to eliminate competition, then raising them. This feedback loop, where Chrome’s popularity fueled Google Search’s, resembles the Enron scandal—a house of cards built on smoke and mirrors.

The August 2024 ruling, while a victory for fair competition, only slightly cracks the facade. Google’s appeal highlights the slow, frustrating pace of justice in these massive cases. Remember the 2008 financial crisis? The systemic failures allowed similar monopolistic practices to fester, and we’re seeing the repercussions again today.

The lesson? Don’t trust any entity wielding unchecked power. Diversify, support smaller businesses, and advocate for policies that prevent monopolies from stifling innovation and harming consumers. The fight is far from over, and the next crisis may be even closer than we think.

Conclusion: Google’s near-monopoly serves as a cautionary tale. History repeats itself—unless we learn from the past, we’re doomed to repeat our mistakes.

Advice

Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Support smaller players and demand fair competition. A diversified economy is a resilient economy.

Source

https://www.reddit.com/r/stocks/comments/1n6ukgk/google_gets_to_keep_chrome_but_is_barred_from/