US/EU: US consumers weigh-in on Google settlement

Consumer Watchdog has sent a letter to the European Commission on behalf of US consumers with a scathing reaction to the EU regulator’s decision to settle with Google after a three-year probe.

Reports say Consumer Watchdog’s Privacy Project commended the Commission’s efforts to maintain a strong stance in its probe, “unlike regulatory authorities in the United States.” However, the group said it “cannot understand what prompted this recent change in attitude,” alluding to the Commission’s decision to settle with Google after rejecting two earlier concession offers from the company.

Google’s third round of concessions was accepted by the Commission last week; Google reportedly offered to display rival search engine results, among other proposals, and the Commission is not planning on a market test.

Rivals have slammed the Commission’s decision to end the case and accept Google’s offer without a market test or competitive feedback.

Now, Consumer Watchdog is joining the vocalized opposition to the settlement after US regulators similarly settled with Google without sanctions.

”For the third proposal to be remotely viable, it must be a substantial change from the earlier iterations,” the consumer group’s letter said. “If it is such a significant change, then – by your own procedures – you must market test it.”

Full Content: Computer World

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