EU fines Google $3.5 billion for abusing dominance in digital ad market

[Burty117]

There is growing disdain for Europe's demand for financial support.

Europe's Arbitrary Fines Harm American Companies and Workers

A recent fine on Uber is the latest example of Europe's unjustifiable use of penalties on American companies.

www.uschamber.com

Sorry, I must be going mad but, let's just take that headline in...
"Europe's Cash Grab: Arbitrary Fines Harm American Companies and Workers"

...Yeah? That's sort of the point of a fine...

Wow man, you American's are legit crazy, you don't even understand what fines are supposed to do anymore.

Uber deserves the fines more than anyone as well, their business practices are just downright disgusting, basically, bleed all the competition dry until they have to close up shop, then quadruple the price once they have the monopoly, personally, if I was running the country, I would just put Uber on a ban list, in-fact, it's mainly American companies that have the cash to pull off such stunts anyway.

 

[scavengerspc]

Wow man, you American's are legit crazy, you don't even understand what fines are supposed to do anymore.

And you don't even understand why fines are supposed to be given.
They are NOT supposed to be a fundraiser because of rampant laziness
or incompetence. Both in the case of the EU.
That is and has been my point.

 

[Burty117]

And you don't even understand why fines are supposed to be given.
They are NOT supposed to be a fundraiser because of rampant laziness
or incompetence. Both in the case of the EU.
That is and has been my point.

So you expect me to feel bad about a mega corporation being fined? And simultanously care the rich are doing rich people things? Are you serious?

"oh no! that terrible monopoly technology company that's trying to enshittify everything online is getting a tiny slap-on-the-wrist fine!"

"oh, that money is going to already rich people? I better really turn the tears on now, rich people are using the law to take money from other rich people, whatever will we do..."

Please...

 

[scavengerspc]

So you expect me to feel bad about a mega corporation being fined? And simultanously care the rich are doing rich people things? Are you serious?

Damn right Euro. Because those people are everyone's boss.
How about some respect for those that keep you out of a ditch, eating roots.
You need them a hell of a lot more than they need you because they will just find someone else
that looks just like you to the bosses.

Please...

No. Please, remember who butters your bread, and be proud you don't need illegal handouts (which was a point in the paper I linked to) like your governments. "Fines" cash of which common citizens will NEVER see a penny.

 

[Burty117]

Damn right Euro. Because those people are everyone's boss.
How about some respect for those that keep you out of a ditch, eating roots.
You need them a hell of a lot more than they need you because they will just find someone else
that looks just like you to the bosses.


No. Please, remember who butters your bread, and be proud you don't need illegal handouts (which was a point in the paper I linked to) like your governments. "Fines" cash of which common citizens will NEVER see a penny.

So when you don't have any argument, you just spout nonsense instead?
Really helping America's reputation right there...

 

[scavengerspc]

So when you don't have any argument, you just spout nonsense instead?
Really helping America's reputation right there...

So what did I say that was nonsense? Explain it to me. Then my turn.
Where in my post did I go wrong?

 

[wiyosaya]

Leeches try to victimize the self supporters. Self-supporting is the LAST thing I would call the EU.
Some day, the parasites will stick their hand in our pockets one too many times.

IMO, leeches and parasites will attach themselves to anything and everything off of which they can get a free meal or ride. IMO, Google is right up there among the worst of parasites no matter where they are doing business.They've probably got some back-room deal with the Orange Felon and that is probably the reason that the US is choosing not to do anything about their monopoly. (Take them caving to the "Gulf of America" BS.) Then again, the US has bungled monopoly breakups in the past.

And there's more than just Google that is expert at parasitism (remember, Google internal memos indicate that they thrive through and by creating addictive algorithms, and they don't GAS who or what they addict to them.) Maybe this is not a good example. but have a look at the line of Crap Tesla sold Germany and then delivered something else and far worse. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/500000-trees-gone-tesla-berlin-gigafactory.

So how do you reign in unruly entities if not by passing laws and having the mojo to enforce them?

As I see it, without laws and subsequent enforcement there would be nothing to stop any company from adopting a "scorched Earth" business model all in the name of profit.

 

[scavengerspc]

IMO, leeches and parasites will attach themselves to anything and everything off of which they can get a free meal or ride. IMO, Google is right up there among the worst of parasites no matter where they are doing business.They've probably got some back-room deal with the Orange Felon and that is probably the reason that the US is choosing not to do anything about their monopoly. (Take them caving to the "Gulf of America" BS.) Then again, the US has bungled monopoly breakups in the past.

And there's more than just Google that is expert at parasitism (remember, Google internal memos indicate that they thrive through and by creating addictive algorithms, and they don't GAS who or what they addict to them.) Maybe this is not a good example. but have a look at the line of Crap Tesla sold Germany and then delivered something else and far worse. https://interestingengineering.com/culture/500000-trees-gone-tesla-berlin-gigafactory.

So how do you reign in unruly entities if not by passing laws and having the mojo to enforce them?

As I see it, without laws and subsequent enforcement there would be nothing to stop any company from adopting a "scorched Earth" business model all in the name of profit.

I hope I don't have to repeat this again. I am not or have I said I favor what these companies do.
What I'm saying is it is just a piss poor excuse to get cash that the EU has proven over and over that they themselves could never make.
The people never see a sliver of the money they do collect.
Not to mention every time they try to milk us once again, they NEVER put a stop to it. Or at least get off the lazy train and compete with them. They make the laws for **** sake. They can legislate Google to death. But they never will. They gets paid, and they are done with it.

I will stick with our COC on this. It's time we found a way to punish them and shut off the EWS. (European welfare system). Bending over is not my idea of a solution. To them or any business that is truly breaking the law.

 

[Burty117]

The people never see a sliver of the money they do collect.

I'll be honest, I really couldn't care less about seeing the money. It'll be a fiver or something silly small that barely buys a sandwich these days.

I'd much rather see Google or whatever company they're fining, actually stop the bad business practices. Microsoft being forced to unbundle IE is a great example, couldn't care less about the money, but but having IE forced in Windows? I'd say that was a win.

 

[scavengerspc]

I'll be honest, I really couldn't care less about seeing the money.

Not one bit surprised. And never a passing thought to use the cash to actually help EU companies supposedly so badly hurt by Google.
We need to stop paying ransom to those lazy fools (the politicians). I'm in favor of helping companies pull up stakes and bail out of the abusive relationship we have with the EU.
It's time to leave them on their own to sink or swim. I'm not alone.

The Discriminatory Impact of European Fines on American Companies

A new report shows that only by adopting a more balanced approach to fines can the EU restore trust, encourage investment, and ease bilateral tensions.

www.uschamber.com

"The new U.S. Chamber report, Arbitrary & Abusive: The Discriminatory Impact of European Fines on American Companies, shows that only by adopting a more balanced approach to fines can the EU restore trust, encourage investment, and ease bilateral tensions. Europe needs to conduct a comprehensive review of and entirely overhaul its fining practices to ensure they are used selectively, calculated transparently, and linked to actual harm. Removing global turnover as a basis for fines would be a big step toward restoring credibility to EU enforcement actions."

Linked to actual harm?? No way in hell could they prove that, but it's time to make them try.

You go last sir.

 

[Burty117]

I'm going to ignore most of that as it's just childish rubbish but there's some stuff I want clarification on, mainly to see what you believe vs fact.

only by adopting a more balanced approach to fines can the EU restore trust, encourage investment, and ease bilateral tensions.

When you say balanced approach, what do you mean by this? Currently, America itself does very little to nothing with its mega corps, just sorta lets them do whatever they want. What would balanced be in this case?

Linked to actual harm?? No way in hell could they prove that, but it's time to make them try.

Your own judges ruled Google as a monopoly, there was enough evidence of actual harm, even in America, they ruled them a monopoly...

 

[wiyosaya]

I hope I don't have to repeat this again. I am not or have I said I favor what these companies do.
What I'm saying is it is just a piss poor excuse to get cash that the EU has proven over and over that they themselves could never make.
<...>
I will stick with our COC on this. It's time we found a way to punish them and shut off the EWS. (European welfare system). Bending over is not my idea of a solution. To them or any business that is truly breaking the law.

The Discriminatory Impact of European Fines on American Companies

A new report shows that only by adopting a more balanced approach to fines can the EU restore trust, encourage investment, and ease bilateral tensions.

www.uschamber.com

"The new U.S. Chamber report, Arbitrary & Abusive: The Discriminatory Impact of European Fines on American Companies, shows that only by adopting a more balanced approach to fines can the EU restore trust, encourage investment, and ease bilateral tensions. Europe needs to conduct a comprehensive review of and entirely overhaul its fining practices to ensure they are used selectively, calculated transparently, and linked to actual harm. Removing global turnover as a basis for fines would be a big step toward restoring credibility to EU enforcement actions."

In the report is this -

Copyright © 2025 by the United States Chamber of Commerce. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form—print,
electronic, or otherwise—without the express written permission of the publisher.

If the report is legit, why include this? One would think that they would want the word out no matter what, but they are against anyone except them distributing the report? To me, it doesn't jive that the report is above board. It sort of reminds me of a report done many years ago that said a gas-guzzling Hummer was more green over its lifetime than a Prius that was so full of holes it looked like Swiss cheese, and people came to the conclusion that the report was produced by a PR firm paid to produce an anti-Prius report.

IMO, any report needs to be viewed through a strong lens with an eye for BS. I don't know what you've experienced in your dealings with foreign countries, but the COC has an interest in producing a report like this. It makes the COC look like they are doing something to "protect" American companies, and perhaps, secures their financial future.

I think it interesting that in the introduction,they cite Trump and him P&Ming about the EU suing the richest and most offensive, IMO, US companies. It echos him, IMO, saying that all you countries can go F yourselves and if you get into trouble with Russia attacking your borders, you're on your own. That kind of language can, and likely will, IMO, backfire as any smart country will find business opportunities elsewhere. In fact, countries are already signing agreements with China because of the BS US Tariffs - https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-...supply-chains-railway-cooperation-2025-04-14/

That said, if I did not know you better, I'd think that you are a Trumper suffering from Trump Disciple Syndrome. Blah, blah, blah, the EU this and the EU that, the EU needs to toe their own weight. I'm sure there are at least some EU citizens that don't agree with the laws of the EU, and maybe even the GDPR. Maybe they also think the EU's laws are overly broad. However, I'm sure that if one looks, one can find overly-broad US laws, too. And the US isn't known for laws that reign in companies that are abusive like Google or Apple. For instance, the US has yet to make it law that companies like Google or Apple have to have the explicit permission for them to distribute even anonymized data that they collect on literally everyone.

But unless the EU has language in their laws that specifically target US, or any country's companies, IMO, its a stretch to say that the EU is abusing US firms. In your dealings with the EU, did you ever encounter laws that specifically stated something along the lines of "American companies or foreign companies" blah blah blah?

Honestly, I think its too late to turn the world back from globalism, and, IMO, there is far more to be gained from guarded cooperation than there is from pulling out and embracing nationalistic tendencies.

Cheers, brother!

 

[scavengerspc]

If the report is legit, why include this? One would think that they would want the word out no matter what, but they are against anyone except them distributing the report? To me, it doesn't jive that the report is above board.

What's funny is despite that warning message, a link to download it is at the bottom!

IMO, any report needs to be viewed through a strong lens with an eye for BS. I don't know what you've experienced in your dealings with foreign countries, but the COC has an interest in producing a report like this. It makes the COC look like they are doing something to "protect" American companies, and perhaps, secures their financial future.

Well, I mean, it is just an opinion piece. But it is an opinion shared by its members and obviously myself. All we really want is for EU politicians to get a real job.
And maybe, just maybe, earn their money.

IMO, its a stretch to say that the EU is abusing US firms

This is on the EU insistence on constantly putting their dirty hands in our cookie jar:
"As a result, it has garnered significant criticism from the U.S. business community, Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, and, most recently, the White House."
This is a bipartisan topic if there ever was one. It is far from only me.

That said, if I did not know you better, I'd think that you are a Trumper suffering from Trump Disciple Syndrome.

Yeah, I do get that every once in a while. I'm sure you know by now I gather facts to make up my mind, and I will NEVER just repeat what I'm told by the media. And that can be multiplied by a hundred on things I'm told by politicians. NOBODY will ever bend this boy over.
I will be me, and if someone doesn't like it then, Good for me!

Really, the only TDS I even think about is Trump Dementia Symptoms.

 

[wiyosaya]

What's funny is despite that warning message, a link to download it is at the bottom!

Double-speak is an art!

Well, I mean, it is just an opinion piece. But it is an opinion shared by its members and obviously myself. All we really want is for EU politicians to get a real job.
And maybe, just maybe, earn their money.

Do politicians anywhere really have a job or are they just experts at BS?
There's an excellent biography on Nixon on PBS TV this week. What's interesting to me is that Trump's campaign strategy, if you can call it that, is essentially a Wash, Rinse, Repeat of Nixon's. Obviously, IMO, Trump is much worse than Nixon.

This is on the EU insistence on constantly putting their dirty hands in our cookie jar:
"As a result, it has garnered significant criticism from the U.S. business community, Republicans and Democrats on Capitol Hill, and, most recently, the White House."
This is a bipartisan topic if there ever was one. It is far from only me.

I'm not sure US politicians can claim the high road especially in the current political climate.

Then again, I'm not sure US politicians can claim the high road at all. I've heard it said that democracy in the US is an experiment. It seems that any form of government is an experiment.

Yeah, I do get that every once in a while. I'm sure you know by now I gather facts to make up my mind, and I will NEVER just repeat what I'm told by the media. And that can be multiplied by a hundred on things I'm told by politicians. NOBODY will ever bend this boy over.
I will be me, and if someone doesn't like it then, Good for me!

Really, the only TDS I even think about is Trump Dementia Symptoms.

There are some things that I agree with that are not typical of my overall viewpoint, too.