#Alphabet Inc. (Google)

[destielmemenews]

former youtube ceo susan wojcicki just died of lung cancer

"Her loss is devastating for all of us who know and love her, for the thousands of Googlers she led over the years, and for millions of people all over the world who looked up to her, benefited from her advocacy and leadership, and felt the impact of the incredible things she created at Google, YouTube, and beyond," Google and Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said in a note to employees.

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[ivie-online]

not a surprise but google is continuously getting worse. searches related to items that can be bought will return endless shopping options, then a few vaguely sourced blogs (made by or for businesses that link to even more shopping options). google scholar is fine for subjects that are broadly represented in western academia, but good luck getting past the abstract without an institution to sign in with, hundreds of loose dollars, or a 3rd party site that works roughly 20% of the time. an entire civilization that has compiled near endless amounts of information, but no unified way to quickly and accurately access it. shouldn’t be of any concern though. i’m sure

[commiepinkofag]

corporations cannot act with impunity;

workers are the true shareholders & must hold themselves accountable, for genocide, ecocide & systemic abuses;

eject the CEOs, managers, HR that uphold the fascist hierarchy;

individuals should not be held hostage by the reliance of income for basic necessities;

people-over-profit can avert the destruction of our modern civilization & a habitable planet;

unionize, whistle-blow, create mutual aid networks; protest, fight;

make it untenable; make it impossible for business as usual

[jolikmc-thoughts]

Few things make me come unglued. This? Yeah, this made me come un-fucking-glued.

I don't give a shit if the SESAC and Alphabet, Inc. are having a lover's tat. Don't block my videos that use shitty covers of your unstable record labels' songs. It's especially fucked up that a fucking AdLib Visual Composer cover of one of Rush's shitty songs somehow got entangled in this mess. It's literally just a beeps-and-boops version of the song, you fuck-nuts!!

Fuck you, Alphabet, Inc. And Google. And YouTube. And especially you, Society of European Stage Authors and Composers.

[netscapenavigator-official]

I wanna know why today, of all days, was the day that YouTube decided to randomly suggest to me an mpreg SCP Foundation story out of the blue.

I don't watch SCP content. I don't watch horror content. I don't watch mpreg content. So please Alphabet Inc. please explain to me what possessed you right here on this day to give me this video. I eagerly await your response.

[qnewsau]

QNews takes on Google in David and Goliath legal battle

New Post has been published on https://qnews.com.au/qnews-takes-on-google-in-david-and-goliath-legal-battle/

QNews takes on Google in David and Goliath legal battle

QNews and independent local newspaper The Sydney Times have joined forces to take on multinational technology company Google/Alphabet Inc. over alleged anticompetitive practices in the advertising technology (ad tech) sector.

The publications are leading a class action against the global corporate behemoth in a David and Goliath battle being funded by British financial institution Woodsford and run by Australian law firm Piper Alderman.

The class action aims to recover compensation for Australian-based website and app publishers who have suffered financial losses due to Google’s alleged misuse of market power in the ad tech sector.

The legal claim centres on four Google ad tech tools: Google Ad Manager, Doubleclick for Publishers, Google Ad Exchange and Google AdSense/AdMob.

QNews publisher Richard Bakker said the class action was not just about money but also fairness in the marketplace, with Google having a stranglehold on the ad tech sector.

“I’ve decided to take on this role because Google’s dominance in the ad tech market has created an environment that’s not just unfair but also detrimental to smaller publishers and media outlets,” Bakker said.

“Their practices stifle competition and leave businesses like mine with little choice but to accept unfavourable terms,” he said.

“It’s time to level the playing field and ensure that innovation and diversity in media can thrive without being crushed under monopolistic practices.”

Bakker said there was a lack of alternatives to the ad tech “ecosystem”, meaning Google effectively controlled the ad tech space in Australia,

Sydney Times publisher Axel Ritenis agreed, calling Google “a law unto themselves” operating in a “wild west environment”.

“One of the primary problems is that Google’s functions and operations are quite opaque; there are these algorithms being used and nobody really understands how their systems work, except for them,” Ritenis told QNews.

“This class action is based on the Trade Practices Act (now known as the Competition and Consumer Act) and our objection to Google relates to fair trading, monopolisation and restraints on trade,” he said.

“Google ads are used by thousands of companies in this country, from small owner-operated businesses up to corporate entities. Because Google controls the space, people have no alternative but to use Google for their advertising.”

A corporate leviathan

As of December 2024, Google/Alphabet Inc. had a market capitalisation of AUD $3.671 trillion, making it the fifth most valuable company in the world.

Economically, the company is larger than Australia, as well as most G20 nations, with only the GDPs of the USA, China, Japan and Germany exceeding Google/Alphabet’s market capitalisation in size.

Bakker said he was not afraid of going head-to-head with one of the world’s largest corporate entities.

“Fear should not prevent us from fighting for what’s right. By coming together, we can amplify our voices and stand a better chance against monopolistic practices,” he said.

Ritner acknowledged that some publishers may be hesitant to join the class action due to Google’s power.

“A lot of publishers are intimidated and scared to take a stand. There is the potential for search traffic to be impacted. I’m not suggesting that Google would ‘punish’ them for joining the class action, but I guess that’s the concern for some publishers, as they get a lot of traffic to their sites through Google,” Ritner said.

“Google has power analogous to a government. They should not have that level of power.”

Well-established precedents

Piper Alderman partners Lillian Rizio and Greg Whyte said that while the affair seemed like a David and Goliath battle, they believed the class action had a strong chance of success, “for the simple reason of the overwhelming merit of the claim”.

“The issues it is raising have been the subject of numerous regulatory findings, both in Australia and overseas,” they said.

“The issues being raised in this case are not novel. They are well-established.”

On 4 December, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) released a statement outlining their inquiry into digital platform services in Australia and their impacts on competition and consumers.

While the QNews–Sydney Times class action is the first of its kind in Australia, Piper Alderman said it was agitating the same issues and raising the same practices as regulatory proceedings in overseas jurisdictions such as Canada and several European nations.

“We are very grateful to QNews and to The Sydney Times for stepping forward to act as lead applicants in this very important case for the publishing industry in Australia,” they said.

Where to now?

Rizio and Whyte said the class action would now proceed through court processes to trial, if it does not settle beforehand.

“We expect the litigation to be hard fought and take a couple of years before reaching a conclusion.

“The ad tech supply chain involves complicated technology and the case will undoubtedly require expert economic testimony in order to define the markets and to establish Google’s significant market power in those markets.”

Publishers wishing to join the class action can register their interest at www.googleadtechaction.com.au.

[wagecagelocations]

Here’s a refined breakdown of the negative impacts associated with the listed companies and the accusations tied to them:

Google

Google is one of the most powerful technology companies in the world, with significant influence over internet search, digital advertising, and data collection. The key negative impacts include:

垄断 (Monopoly):

Google has faced antitrust lawsuits in multiple countries, including the U.S. and EU, for allegedly using its dominant position in search and digital advertising to suppress competition.

Examples include prioritizing its own services (like Google Shopping or YouTube) in search results, disadvantaging competitors.

侵犯隐私 (Privacy Invasion):

Google has been repeatedly accused of violating user privacy through extensive data collection practices.

Issues like tracking users across websites (even in private browsing) and selling targeted ads based on sensitive user data have raised concerns.

Some governments have penalized Google for non-compliance with privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.

滥用权力 (Abuse of Power):

Google’s control over the digital advertising market has led to allegations of unfair practices, such as charging advertisers high fees or giving preferential treatment to its own ad platforms.

Critics argue this dominance stifles innovation and undermines smaller competitors.

Alchemy Technologies

Alchemy Technologies, a digital marketing company, has been accused of engaging in deceptive practices that manipulate user behavior:

Manipulation and Deception:

The company has been accused of misleading consumers through fake advertisements, false claims, or unethical digital marketing strategies.

Allegations include using dark patterns (design choices that trick users into actions they didn’t intend, such as subscriptions) and targeting vulnerable populations with exploitative tactics.

Erosion of Trust:

By misleading consumers and clients, companies like Alchemy Technologies contribute to widespread distrust in digital marketing practices, undermining the credibility of the broader advertising ecosystem.

Apple

Apple is known for its innovation and market leadership but has faced serious accusations regarding its business and labor practices:

垄断 (Monopoly):

Apple has been accused of monopolistic behavior, particularly regarding its App Store policies.

Developers are required to use Apple’s in-app payment system, for which Apple charges up to 30% commission, leading to accusations of anticompetitive behavior.

Legal battles, like the high-profile lawsuit with Epic Games, highlight claims that Apple unfairly limits competition within its ecosystem.

侵犯隐私 (Privacy Invasion):

Despite its public stance on user privacy, Apple has been accused of enabling surveillance, particularly in cases where it complied with government requests for user data.

Concerns about the AirTags product, which has been misused for stalking and tracking people without consent, further dent Apple’s privacy reputation.

强迫劳动 (Forced Labor):

Apple has faced allegations of forced labor within its supply chain, particularly involving factories in China and other countries.

Investigations have linked Apple’s suppliers to Uyghur forced labor in China, where workers are allegedly coerced into producing components for Apple products.

Reports of abusive working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and unsafe environments, persist, despite Apple’s claims of enforcing ethical supplier standards.

Summary of Impacts:

Google: Dominance in tech markets, privacy violations, and abuse of its powerful position have led to antitrust scrutiny and fines worldwide.

Alchemy Technologies: Manipulative and deceptive marketing practices harm consumer trust and foster unethical advertising environments.

Apple: Allegations of monopolistic practices, breaches of privacy, and labor rights violations cast a shadow over its reputation as a tech innovator.

Each company’s actions have far-reaching consequences, affecting industries, consumers, and global labor markets. Addressing these issues would require stricter regulations, transparency, and corporate accountability.

Here’s a refined breakdown of the negative impacts associated with the listed companies and the accusations tied to them:

Google

Google is one of the most powerful technology companies in the world, with significant influence over internet search, digital advertising, and data collection. The key negative impacts include:

垄断 (Monopoly):

Google has faced antitrust lawsuits in multiple countries, including the U.S. and EU, for allegedly using its dominant position in search and digital advertising to suppress competition.

Examples include prioritizing its own services (like Google Shopping or YouTube) in search results, disadvantaging competitors.

侵犯隐私 (Privacy Invasion):

Google has been repeatedly accused of violating user privacy through extensive data collection practices.

Issues like tracking users across websites (even in private browsing) and selling targeted ads based on sensitive user data have raised concerns.

Some governments have penalized Google for non-compliance with privacy laws, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the EU.

滥用权力 (Abuse of Power):

Google’s control over the digital advertising market has led to allegations of unfair practices, such as charging advertisers high fees or giving preferential treatment to its own ad platforms.

Critics argue this dominance stifles innovation and undermines smaller competitors.

Alchemy Technologies

Alchemy Technologies, a digital marketing company, has been accused of engaging in deceptive practices that manipulate user behavior:

Manipulation and Deception:

The company has been accused of misleading consumers through fake advertisements, false claims, or unethical digital marketing strategies.

Allegations include using dark patterns (design choices that trick users into actions they didn’t intend, such as subscriptions) and targeting vulnerable populations with exploitative tactics.

Erosion of Trust:

By misleading consumers and clients, companies like Alchemy Technologies contribute to widespread distrust in digital marketing practices, undermining the credibility of the broader advertising ecosystem.

Apple

Apple is known for its innovation and market leadership but has faced serious accusations regarding its business and labor practices:

垄断 (Monopoly):

Apple has been accused of monopolistic behavior, particularly regarding its App Store policies.

Developers are required to use Apple’s in-app payment system, for which Apple charges up to 30% commission, leading to accusations of anticompetitive behavior.

Legal battles, like the high-profile lawsuit with Epic Games, highlight claims that Apple unfairly limits competition within its ecosystem.

侵犯隐私 (Privacy Invasion):

Despite its public stance on user privacy, Apple has been accused of enabling surveillance, particularly in cases where it complied with government requests for user data.

Concerns about the AirTags product, which has been misused for stalking and tracking people without consent, further dent Apple’s privacy reputation.

强迫劳动 (Forced Labor):

Apple has faced allegations of forced labor within its supply chain, particularly involving factories in China and other countries.

Investigations have linked Apple’s suppliers to Uyghur forced labor in China, where workers are allegedly coerced into producing components for Apple products.

Reports of abusive working conditions, including long hours, low pay, and unsafe environments, persist, despite Apple’s claims of enforcing ethical supplier standards.

Summary of Impacts:

Google: Dominance in tech markets, privacy violations, and abuse of its powerful position have led to antitrust scrutiny and fines worldwide.

Alchemy Technologies: Manipulative and deceptive marketing practices harm consumer trust and foster unethical advertising environments.

Apple: Allegations of monopolistic practices, breaches of privacy, and labor rights violations cast a shadow over its reputation as a tech innovator.

Each company’s actions have far-reaching consequences, affecting industries, consumers, and global labor markets. Addressing these issues would require stricter regulations, transparency, and corporate accountability.

https://chatgpt.com/share/6752f369-7f9c-800c-8ef8-c927a0069dc6

[youthchronical]

Google curbs politics discussion among employees on U.S. Election Day

Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google. Anindito Mukherjee | Bloomberg | Getty Images Google has been moderating and removing employees’ internal election-related conversations, CNBC has learned.  Ahead of Tuesday’s U.S. elections, Google executives warned employees to keep political opinions and statements away from a popular internal discussion forum called Memegen, according to correspondence viewed by…

[widows-and-orphans-united]

One Chance to Create an Impact: The Power of Compassion

In a world rife with challenges and adversities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, amidst these challenges lies a powerful truth – every individual holds the potential to bring about significant change within them.

One Chance to Create an Impact: The Power of Compassion In a world rife with challenges and adversities, it is easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. However, amidst these challenges lies a powerful truth – every individual holds the potential to bring about significant change within them. It begins with recognizing that we are not just passive observers but active participants who can make a…

[reasonsforhope]

Article | Paywall Free

"A bid to break up Alphabet Inc.’s Google is one of the options being considered by the Justice Department after a landmark court ruling found that the company monopolized the online search market, according to people with knowledge of the deliberations.

The move would be Washington’s first push to dismantle a company for illegal monopolization since unsuccessful efforts to break up Microsoft Corp. two decades ago. Less severe options include forcing Google to share more data with competitors and measures to prevent it from gaining an unfair advantage in AI products, said the people, who asked not to be identified discussing private conversations.

Regardless, the government will likely seek a ban on the type of exclusive contracts that were at the center of its case against Google. If the Justice Department pushes ahead with a breakup plan, the most likely units for divestment are the Android operating system and Google’s web browser Chrome, said the people. Officials are also looking at trying to force a possible sale of AdWords, the platform the company uses to sell text advertising, one of the people said.

The Justice Department discussions have intensified in the wake of Judge Amit Mehta’s Aug. 5 ruling that Google illegally monopolized the markets of online search and search text ads. Google has said it will appeal that decision, but Mehta has ordered both sides to begin plans for the second phase of the case, which will involve the government’s proposals for restoring competition, including a possible breakup request.

The US plan will need to be accepted by Mehta, who would direct the company to comply. A forced breakup of Google would be the biggest of a US company since AT&T was dismantled in the 1980s."

-via Bloomberg, August 13, 2024

[richdadpoor]

Google Promises It Will Be More Open About Its Ads

Google is pinky-swearing it will be more transparent in the future about how and why you keep seeing the same ads that seem to know you much better than you know yourself, though only if you live in the European Union. Google’s Antitrust Case Is the Best Thing That Ever Happened to AI In a blog post, Google’s VP of Trust and Safety Laurie Richardson said the company will be expanding its Ads…

[jolikmc-thoughts]

Very cool, Alphabet, Inc. Thanks for that completely worthless notification.

Looking forward to Manifest v3.

███ off.

[soon-palestine]

𝗨.𝗦. 𝗖𝗢𝗨𝗥𝗧 𝗖𝗟𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 𝗧𝗘𝗖𝗛 𝗚𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗧𝗦 𝗢𝗙 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗚𝗢 𝗔𝗕𝗨𝗦𝗘𝗦

Not guilty.

That's the verdict of a US federal appeals court in a case involving five tech companies accused of benefitting from child labour in Congolese mines. On 5th March, 2024, the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia made a 3-0 decision in favour of (Google’s parent company) Alphabet, Microsoft, Dell, Tesla and Apple Inc. in a case filed by 16 former Congolese child miners and their guardians.

The plaintiffs accused the companies of "deliberately obscuring" their dependence on child labour, in effect abetting the exploitation of many children to ensure steady supplies of cobalt. Some of the complainants were the guardians of children who’d been killed in cobalt-mining operations.

The court ruled that buying cobalt in the global supply chain did not amount to "participation in a venture," and there was no proof that the tech giants had anything more than a buyer-seller relationship with suppliers or had the power to stop the use of child labour.

Cobalt is in high demand as competition for market leadership in Electric Vehicle sales kicks into high gear. Nearly two-thirds of the world's cobalt is mined in DR Congo. The country has 2-million artisanal miners working under horrible conditions, according to DelveDatabase, an online database. Four critical minerals - copper, nickel, cobalt and lithium - will generate $16 trillion in the next 25 years, according to the IMF.

DR Congo's vast wealth is the key reason for the country's long history of exploitation and conflict - from Belgian King Leopold II running the country as his private estate to Western tech firms churning out high-end goods using Congolese minerals.

Help raise awareness of the exploitation of Congolese children by sharing this video widely.

[anewsbuddy]

Everyone wants a foldable phone, but most of us can't afford one yet | CNN Business

CNN  —  Chris Pantons is what you’d call a Google Pixel super fan. The Knoxville, Tennessee native loves the software, the camera, the virtual assistant, all of it. He even credits the phone’s car crash detection tool with saving his life a few years ago when he was in an accident. “I’ve owned practically every Pixel device,” said Pantons, 33, who has posted hundreds of YouTube videos about…

[nerdwelt]

Diese App könnte die Akkulaufzeit Ihres Pixel-Telefons verkürzen

Kein Smartphone ist perfekt, aber mehr als fast jedes andere Android-Handy scheinen Google Pixel-Geräte wegen Fehlern und Softwareproblemen im Rampenlicht zu stehen. Dieser Punkt wird erneut betont, da zahlreiche Pixel-Besitzer berichten, dass eine bestimmte App – insbesondere die Google-App – erhebliche Probleme mit der Akkuentladung und Überhitzung verursacht. Wenn man sich das anschaut…

[youthchronical]

Google employees pressure costumed execs at all-hands meeting for clarity on cost cuts

Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai during the Google I/O developers conference in Mountain View, California, on May 10, 2023. David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Images Alphabet executives, donning Halloween costumes, faced questions from concerned employees at an all-hands meeting on Wednesday, following comments on the company’s earnings call suggesting that more cost cuts are coming. “There is a…