Australia‘s competition watchdog has called for a review of efforts to ensure more choice for internet users, citing Google’s dominance in the search engine market and the failure of its competitors to capitalise on the rise of AI. A report by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) highlighted concerns about the growing influence of Big Tech, particularly Google and Microsoft, as they integrate generative AI into their search services. This raises questions about the accuracy and reliability of AI-generated search results.
While the use of AI in search engines is still in its early stages, the ACCC warns that large tech companies’ financial strength and market presence give them a significant advantage. The commission expressed concerns that AI-driven search could lead to misinformation, as consumers may find AI-generated responses both more useful and less accurate. In response to this, Australia is pushing for new regulations, including laws to prevent anti-competitive behaviour and improve consumer choice.
The Australian government has already introduced several measures targeting tech giants, such as requiring social media platforms to pay for news content and restricting access for children under 16. A proposed new law could impose hefty fines on companies that suppress competition. The ACCC has called for service-specific codes to address data advantages and ensure consumers have more freedom to switch between services. The inquiry is expected to close by March next year.
Canada’s Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of abusing its dominant position in online advertising. The bureau seeks an order for Google to divest two ad tech tools and pay a penalty to ensure compliance with competition laws.
The investigation, launched in 2020, found that Google controls key aspects of the ad tech stack in Canada and allegedly employed tactics to entrench its market power. Google disputes the claims, arguing that the online ad market remains competitive.
The case mirrors global scrutiny of Google’s advertising practices, including a similar lawsuit in the United States and ongoing EU investigations. Google’s earlier offer to sell an ad exchange failed to satisfy European publishers.
Popular YouTuber and former NASA engineer Mark Rober has unveiled a unique project: a satellite designed to take selfies with Earth as the backdrop. Partnering with Google and T-Mobile, Rober plans to launch the satellite aboard SpaceX’s Transporter 12 mission in January 2025. Users can upload their selfies to be displayed on a Google Pixel aboard the satellite, which will snap their portrait alongside the planet when it passes over their location.
Accessing the ‘Earth selfie’ is free for subscribers of CrunchLabs, Rober’s educational engineering kit program, as well as T-Mobile customers and Google Pixel users with special codes. Codes can be redeemed starting 3 December at spaceselfie.com, and participants will receive updates on when their photo will be taken.
The satellite itself features innovative engineering, including solar arrays and dual Google Pixel phones for redundancy. To overcome challenges in orientation, Rober’s team equipped the satellite with a flywheel to shift its position for tasks like photo capture and data transmission. Rober’s latest YouTube video provides a deeper dive into the satellite’s mechanics.
India’s Competition Commission (CCI) has launched an investigation into Google’s gaming app policies following a complaint by gaming platform WinZO. The inquiry will examine allegations of discriminatory practices against apps offering real-money games.
WinZO accused Google of favouring certain categories, such as fantasy sports and rummy, while excluding others like carrom, puzzles, and racing games. The gaming platform filed the complaint in 2022, claiming Google’s updated policies create an uneven playing field, disadvantaging smaller developers.
The investigation compounds Google’s regulatory challenges in India, where it has already faced significant fines for anti-competitive behaviour in the Android ecosystem. A CCI official has been tasked with completing the inquiry within 60 days.
Google has yet to comment on the allegations, as the announcement coincided with Thanksgiving in the US.
Canada’s Competition Bureau has filed a lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of anti-competitive practices in online advertising. The agency claims Google abused its dominant position in the Canadian ad tech market to maintain its control, stifling competition and innovation.
The Competition Bureau’s investigation, which began in 2020 and expanded earlier this year, found Google to be the largest provider across the advertising technology stack in the country. The lawsuit seeks a court order for Google to sell two of its advertising tools and pay a penalty to ensure compliance with competition laws in Canada.
Google denies the allegations, stating that the online advertising market is highly competitive and offers many choices for advertisers. The company argues its ad tech tools are designed to help businesses connect with customers effectively while supporting websites and apps.
This case mirrors similar actions taken against Google in the US and the EU. Closing arguments in a US Department of Justice lawsuit accusing Google of monopolising advertising markets were presented recently, while European publishers previously rejected a Google offer to sell part of its ad tech business to settle an EU investigation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer inaugurated London’s first Google-backed AI Campus in Camden on Wednesday. The facility aims to equip young people with vital skills in AI and machine learning, addressing the growing demand for expertise in these areas. Located near Google’s upcoming offices in King’s Cross, the campus has already launched a two-year pilot project for students aged 16 to 18.
The pilot cohort of 32 students will benefit from AI-focused mentoring and resources provided by Google’s DeepMind. They will engage in real-world projects that integrate AI with health, social sciences, and the arts. The campus, a collaboration between Google and local authorities, seeks to inspire students from diverse backgrounds to envision themselves as leaders in the AI-driven future.
Starmer hailed the initiative as a transformative step for young people, particularly those in challenging circumstances. He emphasised that the programme represents a significant milestone in preparing the next generation to navigate AI’s boundless potential. ‘The possibilities of AI are incredible, and projects like this will shape the future,’ he stated.
Google further announced £865,000 in funding for a national AI literacy programme. This initiative, led by the Raspberry Pi Foundation and Parent Zone, aims to train teachers and reach 250,000 students by 2026. Debbie Weinstein, Google’s UK and Ireland managing director, highlighted the programme’s role in ensuring that AI’s vast opportunities are accessible to all, potentially unlocking £400 billion in economic benefits for the UK.
Google is appealing a court order mandating significant changes to its Play app store, arguing to the US 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that legal errors during the trial unfairly favoured Epic Games. The tech giant contends that the San Francisco jury should not have been allowed to rule on Epic’s claims and that the trial judge overstepped by issuing a nationwide injunction.
Epic, known for creating “Fortnite,” accused Google of monopolising app distribution and payment systems on Android devices. A jury sided with Epic last year, leading US District Judge James Donato to require Google to permit rival app stores on Android and allow competitors access to Play’s app catalogue. This injunction, set to last three years, is on hold pending the appeal.
Google warns the mandated changes would disrupt app developers and users, framing the judge’s order as excessive intervention. Epic, meanwhile, dismissed Google’s appeal as baseless and a refusal to honour the jury’s unanimous decision. The appeals court is set to hear arguments in February, with a decision expected later in 2025.
Australia is set to link its Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island to the mainland through a subsea cable project backed by Alphabet’s Google. The Bosun cable will connect Darwin to Christmas Island, significantly enhancing digital resilience and creating additional pathways to Asia. Christmas Island, strategically located 350 km from Jakarta, is home to a small population of 1,250 but plays a vital role in regional defence and communications, aligning with ongoing US-Australia military upgrades in northern Australia.
The project, supported by Australian firms NextDC, Vocus, and Subco, forms part of a larger strategy to diversify subsea cable networks. These connections will complement Australia’s links across the Pacific and Indian Oceans, integrating into global networks connecting the United States, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. The cables also support Australia’s defence strategy, including its surveillance operations as China‘s submarine activity increases in the Indian Ocean.
In addition to its strategic importance, the cable will provide the residents of Christmas Island with faster and more reliable internet services, significantly improving local connectivity. This development highlights Australia’s commitment to secure, resilient digital infrastructure while strengthening ties with its remote territories and global partners.
Google and Meta are urging the Australian government to delay a proposed law that would prohibit social media use for children under 16, citing insufficient time to evaluate its potential effects. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s government aims to pass the bill, which includes some of the strictest child social media controls globally, before the parliamentary year ends on Thursday. However, critics argue the rushed timeline undermines thorough debate and expert input.
The bill mandates social media platforms, not parents or children, to implement age-verification systems, potentially involving biometrics or government IDs. Platforms failing to comply could face fines of up to AUD 49.5 million ($32 million). While the Liberal opposition is likely to support the legislation, some independents and tech companies like TikTok and Elon Musk’s X have raised concerns about its clarity and impact on human rights, including freedom of expression and access to information.
Tech companies argue the government should wait for the results of an age-verification trial before proceeding. TikTok called the bill rushed and poorly consulted, while Meta described it as “inconsistent and ineffective.” Meanwhile, Elon Musk criticised the bill as a potential tool for broader internet control, amplifying debates over balancing child safety with digital freedoms.
As a Senate committee prepares a report on the legislation, the controversy underscores the global challenge of regulating children’s online activity without infringing on broader rights.
A pivotal antitrust case involving Google’s dominance in online advertising has reached its conclusion in a Virginia federal court. The US Department of Justice (DOJ) alleges that Alphabet’s Google unfairly monopolised key markets, including ad servers and advertiser networks, as well as attempting to dominate ad exchanges. Closing arguments were presented after a 15-day trial.
DOJ lawyers accused Google of manipulating the ad market for its advantage. They characterised the company as a ‘once, twice, three times a monopolist’ and likened the case to a tale of conflicting narratives, urging the judge to side with their evidence. Publishers testified about being unable to switch from Google’s services due to the company’s vast ad demand, highlighting the significant revenue at stake.
Google’s defence argued that its business practices align with antitrust laws and that the DOJ failed to meet the burden of proof. Company lawyers claimed the case misrepresented a competitive ad market and ignored Google’s legitimate strategies. Google contends the government focused narrowly on certain market aspects rather than acknowledging broader industry competition.
A decision could lead to major structural changes for Google’s advertising business. Prosecutors want Google to divest its Ad Manager platform, which includes its publisher ad server and ad exchange. The company recently offered to sell its ad exchange to resolve a similar EU antitrust inquiry, though European publishers rejected the proposal as inadequate.
