On Friday, Microsoft and Google openly sparred as the latter ready to appear at a Congressional hearing focusing on the impact of big tech giants on local news. Moreover, Microsoft targeted the dominance of Google in advertising as it described in the testimony at Congress how the tech company contributed to the erosion of local journalism. Brad Smith, the Microsoft President, said in his written testimony to the Congress antitrust subcommittee that the beset journalism is creating problems because of the fundamental lack of competition in tech and search markets under the control of Google.
Smith continued that the question didn’t arise about whether Google acted unlawfully. But Microsoft learned from its own experience around two decades ago when the success of the company creates side efforts that badly impact a market and the society, and the authorities should not ignore the problem. And this basically requires government action. Before hearing, Google lashed out with a blog post and accused Microsoft of lobbing self-serving claims and returning to the anti-Google playbook.
Google and Microsoft took Opposing slammed new Australian tech law
In the last few weeks, Google and Microsoft took opposing positions on an Australian law that demanding tech titans to negotiate their revenue shares with national news publishers. Google threatened in response to pulling its services out of Australia, while Microsoft optimistically accepted the legislation and added that its Bing search engine would fill the Google gap.
Microsoft and Google are in a public feud Source: Web
The concerns that became the reason for the approval of new Australian law now echoed across the world, including in the U.S. halls of Congress. Microsoft supported a bill on Friday led by Representative David Cicilline that would give local news publishers an antimonopoly waiver so that they can negotiate for revenue mutually against tech giants like Google. Smith noted that Microsoft would possibly be subject to Australian law, but he said the tech industry should take an obligation to support quality journalism.
