Ohio is asking Google to comply with existing measures and restrictions for public services.
The state argues that this protocol will prevent the group from abusing its dominant position by favoring its own services.
As expected, the latter refused and will defend its case in court. Google is once again under fire for its anti-competitive practices.
Already fined several times for these same accusations, including the recent 220 million euro fine imposed by France,
the Mountain View company does not seem to show any willingness to leave a little space to other services than its own.
Of course, some people find it hard to believe that a private company can grant itself a quasi-monopoly in many sectors. For Dave Yost, Ohio’s attorney general, the solution is obvious.
The latter has called on the U.S. justice system to subject Google to the same legislative measures as public services. “Google is using its dominance of Internet search to steer Ohioans to its own products. That’s discriminatory and anti-competitive” he argues.
“When you own the railroads or the power grids or the telecom antennas, you have to treat users the same and make sure that everyone has access to the service in question”, he added.
Ohio Wants To Make Google A Public Service?
For Dave Yost, there is no distinction to be made between Google and any other service provided by the state.
A company of this size, with such an impact on the daily lives of its users, should not overshadow its smaller rivals in the same sector, such as airline ticket booking
As the prosecutor explains: “If the results direct the person to the Google Flights service, that person does not see the offers of competitors such as Orbitz and Travelocity.
Unsurprisingly, Google strongly opposed such a measure, arguing that “Google Search results would become worse and it would be harder for small businesses to connect with customers” if it were to be implemented.
“Ohioans don’t want the government running Google like a gas or electric company at all”, the group believes.
