Google, Facebook, coordinated antitrust response: Report
Google and Facebook worked alongside one another to help fight an antitrust investigation in to the two tech giants which dominate digital advertising, according to a media report citing a good draft of a state lawsuit.
The Wall Street Journal, which cited a draft version of the complaint filed by 10 US states without redactions in the public version, said Tuesday both firms decided to “cooperate and assist each other” in giving an answer to an antitrust probe.
The case filed the other day was among three separate actions filed by state and federal antitrust enforcers against Google. Another case has got been filed against Facebook over its acquisition of two rival messaging applications.
Facebook dismissed the allegations, saying agreements between the two firms were not targeted at harming competition but offered choices and rewards for advertisers and publishers.
“Any allegation that harms competition or any suggestion of misconduct for Facebook is baseless,” a Facebook spokesperson said.
Google didn't immediately respond to a great AFP query. However the Journal quoted the tech strong as saying there is nothing improper or exclusive about its set up with Facebook.
The claims “are inaccurate. We don’t manipulate the auction,” the Google spokesperson explained.
In line with the Journal, the unredacted draft recommended Facebook would win “a fixed percentage” of marketing auctions and that an internal Facebook file described the deal as “relatively cheap” in comparison to direct competition.
Google’s documents, that have been also not cited in the ultimate version of the match, suggested the deal would “build a moat” in order to avoid direct competition with Fb, in line with the report.
Source: www.theindependentbd.com
