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Google goes to trial in biggest US challenge to tech power in decades

  • Web Diva
    Leader
    September 12, 2023 1:46 PM PDT
    How many of us have questioned how Google indexes websites and how some websites are deeply buried and hard to find. This will be an interesting trial to watch for the end result. Does Google purposely monetize their search space or not? [url=https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/11/landmark-google-antitrust-trial-doj?ref=scoop.smarthernews.com]https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/sep/11/landmark-google-antitrust-trial-doj?ref=scoop.smarthernews.com

    The trial in a landmark antitrust case against Google is scheduled to start on Tuesday in Washington district court over charges of monopolizing the online search space.

    The suit, filed by the US justice department in 2020, represents the biggest legal challenge to the power and influence of big tech in decades, and could be a bellwether in the fight against the industry’s monopolies.

  • Mark Ransome
    Member
    September 12, 2023 3:27 PM PDT
    Maybe it's time to change search engine?
  • Web Diva
    Leader
    September 12, 2023 8:30 PM PDT
    I agree, there are so many others. Which search engine do you think is the best or that you use the most?
  • Mark Ransome
    Member
    September 17, 2023 1:17 AM PDT
    Well, I have to admit I currently use Google as my search engine and have done for a long time, but it's not just about the search engine, the browser comes in to it as well and I use Google Chrome, so Google obviously knows all about my online habits! Now the only other search engine I think is any good is probably Microsoft Bing and as for an alternate browser I like Opera, it's very similar to Chrome. However, I just want to add here that Google seems to have the global monopoly on online ad spaces, Google ads are almost everywhere you look on the internet, but I have a personal policy never to click on any ads I see because that's just another way for Google to track you, regardless of search engine or browser!
  • Web Diva
    Leader
    September 17, 2023 8:58 AM PDT
    I've used Chrome and Bing. I haven't tried Opera. I try not to click on ads either and I really didn't think about if you click though, that's another way to track. Google really does have the monopoly on ad spaces and searches. I have Mozilla and Duck Duck Go right now on this laptop but I don't think the overall search experience is as great as with Google. I have added Chrome on this laptop in case I need an alternative.
  • Mark Ransome
    Member
    September 17, 2023 9:12 AM PDT
    Yes Duck Duck Go, I've seen it advertised and it says no one can track you but I've never tried it. I wonder if using it with Google as your default search engine whether it does actually stop the tracking? Might give it a try!
  • Web Diva
    Leader
    September 25, 2023 2:18 PM PDT
    I have mixed feelings about DDG. Some say it's completely private and then you come to other blogs and comments and they say it's not. I can tell you that unless you have your settings right on your Android with DDG, if you close your browser, all the windows/tabs you had open will be lost and there's no history to get them back. Done that and fixed it ...lol. On Google, have you gone into their "deep account" settings yet? There's a lot of settings to disable...and I keep forgetting to check on that stuff at least every few months.
  • Mark Ransome
    Member
    September 26, 2023 1:11 AM PDT
    "deep account" settings, no I have not, maybe I should!
  • Web Diva
    Leader
    September 26, 2023 7:19 AM PDT
    Yeah, it's kind of scary when you get there.
  • Geffers G
    October 2, 2023 11:32 AM PDT
    markransome mentioned DuckDuckGo.

    Here is an interesting 8 minute video from Liron Segev explaining the correct way to use DuckDuckGo

    [url=https://youtu.be/WiCqAcWRl_I?si=aITIyjE3mydFG5ya]https://youtu.be/WiCqAcWRl_I?si=aITIyjE3mydFG5ya

    Geffers