Movement for an Open Web

⚖️ Following the US vs Google Search trial, the US Department of Justice has announced its proposed Remedy Framework for Google’s monopoly. The document sets out a portfolio of remedy options that could be imposed on Google as a result of the guilty verdict. Whilst some have speculated that this could lead to the breakup of Google, MOW believes that a series of behavioural and access remedies are the more likely outcome. In Google’s response they – predictably – claimed that the proposed remedies were incompatible with privacy but in fact their response seems to highlight potentially toxic data practices with their business. To find out more read our full statement. 👉 https://lnkd.in/e243YYkz

The Department of Justice must insist that Google share use of its search and advertising data, says MOW in its recently submitted recommended remedies. In anticipation of an announcement from the US DOJ regarding the US vs Google Search trial, read on to find out more about how we think the outcomes should look. 👉 https://lnkd.in/euj4U5jq

We are delighted to share that our co-founder James Rosewell has been nominated for AdTech Personality of the Year at The Wire Awards 2024. Please vote for him via the link below to support his nomination. Thank you in advance! ▶️https://lnkd.in/erK8zfZY

We are delighted to share that our co-founder James Rosewell has been nominated for AdTech Personality of the Year at The Wire Awards 2024. Please vote for him via the link below to support his nomination. Thank you in advance! ▶️https://lnkd.in/erK8zfZY

📩 Read our latest newsletter to find out more about the CMA strengthening its actions against Google, our positive vision for the future of the internet, MOW's recent efforts on building a global consensus around digital privacy, and keep track of the various legal cases against Google with a handy timeline. ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eY-pK5jj

In response to the CMA’s announcement (24th September 2024) that competition concerns remain around Google’s Privacy Sandbox despite its desire to enroll consumers as part of the discriminatory treatment of third-party cookies from Chrome, James Rosewell, co-founder, Movement for an Open Web, said:     “The important message from this announcement is that the CMA has not given up on this investigation.  Despite Google’s attempts to avoid further scrutiny by stepping back from its threat to outright block cookies in Chrome, the CMA has rightly recognised that there are still significant concerns with Google’s proposals.    “The revised commitments that come out of this process need to prevent Google from interfering with interoperability in the digital advertising supply chain.  Cookies were one part of this but there are multiple other aspects of Privacy Sandbox and its implementation that have the same damaging effects on competition online.    “Making Privacy Sandbox compatible with effective competition isn’t just about agreeing the wording on some consent options, its about ensuring that Google’s owned and operated properties play on a level playing field with smaller rivals that rely on competitor technologies.” https://lnkd.in/d-rXxiyD

The EC has announced new proceedings against Apple on interoperability under the Digital Markets Act. This process aims to encourage Apple into compliance with the interoperability obligations of the DMA, potentially leading to significant changes in its approach to third party hardware and software proivders. In response, Timothy Cowen, co-founder of the Movement for an Open Web, said: “The EC have hit the bullseye by aiming at interoperability with these proceedings. Interoperability is what enables businesses to compete on a level playing field with the platforms and that’s why they’ve been intentionally degrading it over the last few years. For example, Apple degraded interoperability in open web advertising, making it a less effective channel for advertisers. This increased the value of search advertising where Apple benefitted via its revenue share with Google. That same approach is happening across the board and the EC is recognising that with these proceedings.  “This is the first major intervention against the platforms on interoperability by the EC under the DMA and it’s a clear demonstration of the potential that this legislation has to combat their monopoly power. We would encourage the EC to go further in these proceedings and to also look at the damage Apple and Google have done by blocking and devaluing the open web standards such as cookies that enable interoperability between businesses.” Read our statement here:▶️ https://lnkd.in/ecP7BCZG

⚖️ On September 9th the curtains opened on the second USA vs Google antitrust case against Google, this time for anti-competitive practices in relation to their alleged monopoly over AdTech. The DOJ is seeking to stop the harm, impose damages and potentially break up the business to restore competition. Read our analysis of the first week of the trial here: ➡️ https://lnkd.in/e-G5E7GX

🎂 Happy birthday to us! 🎂 The Movement for an Open Web is four years old today! On 18th September 2020 our founders, James Rosewell and Timothy Cowen, incorporated Movement for an Open Web Ltd to lead the fight against the enclosure of the Internet by the tech giants. We wanted to help in the battle against efforts by the platforms to degrade open standards in order to close down competition online.   Since then we’ve been pretty busy! We were the primary complainant behind the CMA’s investigation into Privacy Sandbox as well as the European Commission’s and the CMA’s Statements of Objection to Google. We’ve also been closely involved with the US Department of Justice on the ongoing Google AdTech trial and have been advocating for fairer and more balanced rule making at the W3C.   Those activities have made a real difference to the debate around the role of Google and Apple in digital markets. As well as the avalanche of regulation and litigation that Google now faces, the CMA’s intervention in Privacy Sandbox led to the delay and then rollback of Google’s cookie deprecation plans and the W3C is – slowly – reforming to counter the power of the monopolists in digital rule making. More importantly, the debate has now moved on from whether something should be done about the platforms to what should be done about the platforms.   But we’re not resting on our laurels. There is much to yet to do.     Firstly, we need to ensure that any remedies against Google go beyond headline-grabbing breakups to address the systemic issues that have allowed its dominance. That means defining new standards, reforming the standards-making process and addressing the power of browser owners. Then we need to look at creating a sensible and reasoned debate on privacy that benefits both consumer protection and competition. We want to help create a digital market that is fit for purpose for the next 20 or 50 years, not just a solution that punishes the most egregiously monopolistic acts in the short term.     We can’t do this alone. Our members continue to support our efforts but we need more organisations to come forward and play their part, in public or behind the scenes. We also want to work with other advocacy organisations that support our aims to ensure that there is a unified voice for change. If you want to support a fairer and more competitive internet, one that works for all consumers and business and not just the tech giants, please get in touch. The more supporters we have, the sooner and better we can get this important work done. Find out more here: ▶️ https://lnkd.in/eiJgESr7

Earlier this month, our co-founder James Rosewell spoke at the Prestigious Capitol Forum debate looking at the future of the adtech market. In a broad ranging conversation looking at what competitive remedies against the platforms might look like, the panel covered the cost of advertising to consumers, the need for a more nuanced understanding of privacy in the marketplace and how competition, not monopolists, should decide the future of the Internet. You can watch the video here: https://lnkd.in/eQSXpsAU