“Free” Online Services and Gonzo Capitalism (7/23)

Question 1

In 2022, Google settled with forty states for $391.5 million. What was the charge against Google?

Answer 1

That it obfuscated its policy on collection of personal location data

Question 2

The 2022 court settlement was based upon a 2018 expose by the Associated Press. What did the AP document in their expose?

Answer 2

Google services on Android and iphone store the user location data even if a user used privacy setting that says it will prevent google from doing so, The AP showed that even with location history off, some google apps automaticly store time stamped without asking

Question 3

What explanation did Google offer to justify the behavior documented by the Associated Press in 2018?

Answer 3

That it was done to improve user experience

Question 4

What specific protections are there for personal privacy in the U.S. Constitution?

Answer 4

none

Question 5

According to Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas in Griswold v. Connecticut, any implied Constitutional guarantees of personal privacy would have to be found buried somehow in __________________ . <fill></fill>

Answer 5

The penumbra (The implied rights) of the constitution

Question 6

In 2023 the Department of Justice filed a second suit against Google for what crime?

Answer 6

monopolizing the digital advertising technology market

Question 7

In 2022 the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee published a report on
competition in digital markets that listed several examples of illegal activities by online companies. List 2 of them.

Answer 7

paying companies that make smartphone to preinstall google apps as default removing right of choice and eliminating competitors

Using search monopoly where competitors are demoted and google is being permoted

Question 8

The 2022 House Report identified 3 common problems attributed to the four online platforms Google, Amazon, Apple and Facebook. What were they?

Answer 8

-The platforms serve as gate keepers over key channel distribution
- They use gate keeper position to maintain market power
- they abuse they role as intermediates to enrich themselves and dominte markets

Question 9

The author lists 9 questionable business practices of Google that resulted from the recent international litigations. List 4 of them.

Answer 9

Serving as gate keeper over primary distribution channels
Illigaly using captured biometric data
Blocking competition
Misleaading customers

Question 10

What was the term that pioneers of modern economics Adam Smith and David Riccardo used to describe the business practices of which Google and the other online platform providers were accused in recent international courts

Answer 10

Rent seeking