Back in 2011 Google was being probed by the FTC over anti-trust allegations. Ultimately Google was found to have no search bias by the FTC and the charges were dropped.
But now, the Wall Street Journal published documents that were "inadvertently disclosed" about the probe showing how the FTC really wanted to give it to Google.
Key staff of the Federal Trade Commission concluded in 2012 that Google Inc. used anticompetitive tactics and abused its monopoly power in ways that harmed Internet users and competitors, a far harsher analysis of Google’s business than was previously known.The staff report from the agency’s bureau of competition, which hasn’t before been disclosed, recommended the commission bring a lawsuit challenging three separate Google practices, a move that would have triggered one of the highest-profile antitrust cases since the Justice Department sued Microsoft Corp. in the 1990s.
They sum it up nicely in this chart, which I will embed here, but you really need to read the whole story:
Now, keep in mind, normally these FTC folks are clueless about technology and how it works. Google actually won and the FTC dropped the case, so what was leaked was over time and maybe as Google educated them, they learned there was no search bias. This being leaked now just shows the process the FTC went through and their ultimate decision.
Danny Sullivan paraphrased a statement from Google on this topic, where I 100% honestly believe, Google's intent, is to provide the best quality search results. That is their intent, in my opinion, how it comes off to you and I, looks completely different.
The folks at WebmasterWorld had some things to say as well:
Validation is bittersweet, always thought, not sure I feel any better knowing.
Wow, what a read, ALL of google's "do know evil" is out the window.
Forum discussion at WebmasterWorld.
