Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) stayed calm and collected as they responded to every allegation made against them by News Corp, starting off with the heading ‘Dear Rupert…’.
Last week Robert Thomson, the CEO of News Corp owned by Rupert Murdoch, wrote a letter to the EU Competition Commission and accused that Google was a platform for not only piracy but the very act of extremism in Europe. Its practices are destroying the news organizations as well as online websites by illegal search result practices.
It also alleged that Google presents its own offerings first, even if they are less relevant to the customers search requirement. It blatantly promotes piracy and absolutely makes no move to curb its rampant spread. However Google responded that it has done more than any other company to help solve the problem of piracy. They have invested millions of dollars to create ContentID, which detects piracy in the YouTube videos posted.
It seems to the unbiased observer that News Corp instead of focusing on Google’s malpractices, was trying to blame everything on Google by including vague and far-fetched concepts along with justified popular objections. The SVP of Google’s global communications Rachel whetstone responded that Google in no way should be considered the gatekeeper of the internet, even though its popularity in Europe is great.
To News Corp’s allegation that Google’s ranking on its search page is faulty and biased got the response from Whetstone that Google changes the search result algo at least 500 times in a year which is once around every 18 hours! Contrary to what News Corp believes, this is for bring a positive change to the customer experience and definitely not to punish websites.
Google has been in a four year long anti-trust allegation war with the EU Competition Commission as it is clear leader and has had complains of search result malpractice. This Tuesday, Joaquin Alumnia who is the Competition Chief at EU said at the European Parliament session that Google has to offer concessions otherwise it will be heavily fined. In contrast to the bleak tone of the parliament session, Whetstone remained positive.
News Corp said that Google’s founders started off as revolutionaries but have been replaced by suspicious management who seeks nothing but to create negativity. In response to which, the blog posting said very clearly that the vision is very much intact as Larry Page and Sergey Brin are still at the helm of Google. They have been constantly inspiring the whole company to dream big innovative dreams which have no boundaries.
To the allegation that Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOGL) undermines the content of professional reporters the result of which is a less informed and exasperating level of discussion in Europe, Whetstone very smoothly responded that the consumers could judge that for themselves. The blog posting ended with the lowest ebb in News Corps journalism when they published an insult for the EU Competition Commissions President on the Suns front page.