Google Says It Erred in Europe: 'We Don't Always Get It Right'
Modern technology is transforming life as we know it — but European regulators are trying furiously to cushion the blow for the continent’s consumers and business interests.
The European Commission has more than a dozen open investigations in the technology sector with an estimated 70 prosecutors examining the business practices of US powerhouses including Google, Amazon and Apple. POLITICO highlights the top 10 antitrust cases in Europe here.
Google, apparently, has recognized the error of its ways in Europe, at least from a PR standpoint.
Matt Brittin, who oversees Google’s European activities, said in his first interview addressing the anti-trust charges lodged against the company in April, that while the search engine giant disagrees with the accusations, they remain open to a settlement agreement.
He acknowledged that Google had failed to explain its business and vision to policymakers in Brussels and elsewhere in Europe, and said that the company was trying to adjust its American-rooted Silicon Valley image.
He said that in countries like Germany, France or Spain, Google for too long has seemed “like a West coast-driven, liberal values thing.”
“We don’t always get it right,” Brittin said. “As far as Europe is concerned: we get it. We understand that people here are not the same in their attitudes to everything as people in America.”
“We just didn’t have the people on the ground to be able to have some of those conversations as we grew.”
The verdicts by Margrethe Vestager, European commissioner for competition, together with national antitrust regulators and the courts could revolutionize online shopping, how people use their smartphones and what they watch on TV.
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9 年It's surprising that a company the size of Google didn't have the people on the ground with whom to have these conversations and, at the same time, comforting as this can hit small businesses with international interests. So important to be where the action is and have those informal chats that uncover so much.
Student at Forman Christian College
9 年yes i think that
Author, Speaker, Consultant, Craft Brewer. Committed to helping you change your culture
9 年This is about understanding cultural differences. Only the most progressive and enlightened leaders are taking culture seriously and as organisations become more global this will become critical. By the way there is no such thing as a homogenous Europe. There are a wide variety of cultures in Europe. My advice to google is not to assume because you've realised Europe is different to the USA you've solved the problem. You've found the problem, solving it will mean understanding individual countries and cultures. We can help.....
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9 年Born in the USA but speak Dutch, German, Italian, Little thai, mexican, French, Korean, Japaeese and Swedish. CW4 Craig Urban USA Retired. Been to 48 lands. I am 66 years old