Google and Microsoft are in a public feud

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Microsoft MSFT focused on Google’s dominance in advertising, as described in the congressional testimony of how the tech industry has contributed to the erosion of local journalism.

“The problems facing journalism today are caused in part by a fundamental lack of competition in the search and ad technology markets controlled by Google,” said Microsoft president Brad Smith in his written testimony before the antitrust subcommittee of the United States. the House.

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“This is not to make a statement as to whether Google has acted unlawfully,” Smith continued. “But as we learned firsthand from Microsoft’s own experience two decades ago, when a company’s success creates side effects that negatively impact a market and our society, the problem cannot be ignored. usually government measures. “

Prior to the hearing, Google GOOGL lashed out with a blog post accusing Microsoft of lobbying self-service claims and reverting to an aggressive, anti-Google playbook.
“This latest attack marks a return to Microsoft’s longstanding practices,” Google SVP of Global Affairs Kent Walker wrote in a blog post. “And it is no coincidence that Microsoft’s renewed interest in attacking us follows the SolarWinds attack and at a time they allowed tens of thousands of their customers … to be actively hacked through major Microsoft vulnerabilities. perhaps unsurprisingly they are dusting off the old distracting Scroogled playbook. “
In recent weeks, Microsoft and Google have taken opposing views on an Australian law requiring technology giants to negotiate revenue shares with news outlets. Where Google threatened to leave Australia, Microsoft cheerfully backed the legislation and said the Bing search engine would fill the gap.

The concerns that gave rise to Australian law are now echoed around the world, including in the halls of Congress.

On Friday, Microsoft passed a bill led by Rep. David Cicilline that would give news outlets an antitrust exemption so they can collectively negotiate revenue against technology giants.

Microsoft itself would likely be subject to the law, Smith noted, but said the tech industry has a duty to do more to support quality journalism.

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