GUESTS & RESOURCES
- Jordan Koene: Website // LinkedIn
- The Voices of Search Podcast: Email // LinkedIn // Twitter
- Benjamin Shapiro: Website // LinkedIn // Twitter
Episode Overview:
Join host Ben as he continues his conversation with Searchmetrics’ SEO Strategist and Advisor Jordan Koene as they delve deeper into the details of Google’s anti-trust hearing. The hearing occurred on Oct. 30, 2020, where key dates were established and the court made requests of Google.
The Justice Department required Google to submit an official response to the presiding judge regarding the lawsuit by mid-December. It’s expected the summary will include Google’s POV of what a search engine is and that the search landscape is far more diverse than the monopoly allegations state. They’re expected to use Amazon and Facebook as examples, while also requesting to see 16 months worth of data the government collected on the search giant.
Search industry experts believe Google is aiming to analyze the government’s data to prove they acted on weak data acquired from third-party sources. The burden lies on the government to thoroughly prove Google is engaging in harmful business practices, which Google is hoping to use to bolster their defense. A motion to dismiss the charges is due Nov. 13, which is key as both parties are aiming to expedite the process.
An interesting variable is that the judge presiding over the case disclosed that his cousin is an engineer at Google and a close friend is also a Google executive. The judge offered the disclosure to be transparent, although it lends an advantage to the government should they dispute the judge’s ruling. Eleven state attorney generals filed this case with the justice department, and all of them are Republican.
A potential political motive may lie behind the filings, although the case does align with some Republican views on creating a fair, open marketplace that companies can equally compete in.