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Sean D. Reyes
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AG Reyes Full Statement on Google Ad tech Lawsuit

12/16/20

Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes issued this statement in response to the lawsuit filed on 12/16/20 pertaining to Google “AdTech”

“Google has changed the technology ecosystem in a number of positive ways, providing the public with innovative and user-friendly products and services to become a technology juggernaut. Unfortunately, Google has also unfairly used anti-competitive practices in its massive acquisition of power and illegally leveraged its size and strength to further consolidate its overwhelming market dominance.”

“To the detriment of competitors and consumers, Google has strayed from its founding motto of “Don’t be evil” by displaying naked greed and a disdain for the law in its pursuit of absolute market dominance. Rather than relying on innovation and merit in an open market, Google has chosen to crush all competition with a concerted scheme that few in the public understand.”

“We as regulators, and some of us as former tech lawyers and innovators, realize that popular Google products and services come with a cost. To provide these, Google should be allowed to generate revenues appropriately. But, while no products are ever really “free”, the markets should always remain so.”

“When it comes to online advertising, representing hundreds of billions of dollars annually, Google controls every switch and lever throughout the entire circuit. This type of unfettered power is dangerous in any industry. If this were a real estate transaction, Google would represent the buyer, seller, lender, title company and more. As a business community, we would never let one entity wield so much power to use purely for it’s own benefit. Without competition, consumers suffer.”

“We join this bi-partisan lawsuit today, to protect not only our consumers but the businesses of our state from Google’s oppressive “AdTech” practices. These anti-competitive actions are destructive but too often hidden behind the public goodwill Google enjoys from its popular products and services. This affront to notions of fair market practices has gone on for far too long. Our lawsuit aims to stop it.”

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If Google will stop it’s abusive practices, we have no problem allowing the company to innovate and thrive. Google should be credited for a number of things it’s done right in the market. But it should leverage its “right” not “might” going forward.

Google has changed the technology ecosystem in a number of positive ways, providing the public with innovative and user-friendly products and services to become a technology juggernaut. Unfortunately, Google has also unfairly used anti-competitive practices in its massive acquisition of power and illegally leveraged its size and strength to further consolidate its overwhelming market dominance.

To the detriment of competitors and consumers, Google has strayed from its founding motto of “Don’t be evil” by displaying naked greed and a disdain for the law in its pursuit of absolute market dominance. Rather than relying on innovation and merit in an open market, Google has chosen to crush all competition with a concerted scheme that few in the public understand.

We as regulators, and some of us as former tech lawyers and innovators, realize that popular Google products and services come with a cost. To provide these, Google should be allowed to generate revenues appropriately. But, while no products are ever really “free”, the markets should always remain so.

When it comes to online advertising, representing hundreds of billions of dollars annually, Google controls every switch and lever throughout the entire circuit. This type of unfettered power is dangerous in any industry. If this were a real estate transaction, Google would represent the buyer, seller, lender, title company and more. As a business community, we would never let one entity wield so much power to use purely for it’s own benefit. Without competition, consumers suffer.

We join this bi-partisan lawsuit today, to protect not only our consumers but the businesses of our state from Google’s oppressive “AdTech” practices. These anti-competitive actions are destructive but too often hidden behind the public goodwill Google enjoys from its popular products and services. This affront to notions of fair market practices has gone on for far too long. Our lawsuit aims to stop it.

If Google will stop it’s abusive practices, we have no problem allowing the company to innovate and thrive. Google should be credited for a number of things it’s done right in the market. But it should leverage its “right” not “might” going forward.