Google Accused of Secret Program Giving Them an Unfair Advantage in Ad-Buying (nypost.com) 26
Google "has utilized a secret program to track bids on its ad-buying platform," writes the New York Post, "and has been accused of using the information to gain an unfair market advantage that raked in hundreds of millions of dollars annually, according to a report."
The initiative — dubbed "Project Bernanke" in an apparent reference to former Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke — was detailed in court filings in an ongoing Texas-led antitrust suit, which were initially uploaded to an online docket with incomplete redactions, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday... Lawyers for the Lone Star State argue, however, that the program was tantamount to insider trading, particularly when combined with Google's complicated, multi-layered role in the online advertising marketplace.
The company operates simultaneously as the operator of a major ad exchange, a representative of both buyers and sellers on the exchange — and a buyer in its own right, according to the suit. By using Project Bernanke's inside information on what other ad buyers were willing to pay for space, Google could tailor its operations to beat out rivals and bid the bare minimum to secure ad inventory, the state reportedly alleges...
Separately, the filings reveal more details about Jedi Blue — an alleged hush-hush deal in which Google allegedly guaranteed that Facebook would win a fixed percentage of advertising deals in which the social media giant bid... Google also admitted that the deal required Facebook to spend $500 million or more in Google's Ad Manager or AdMob bids in the pact's fourth year, and that Facebook agreed to make efforts to win 10 percent of the auctions in which it competed, the WSJ said.
The arrangement appeared "to allow Facebook to bid and win more often in auctions," lawyers for Texas alleged in their filings.
The company operates simultaneously as the operator of a major ad exchange, a representative of both buyers and sellers on the exchange — and a buyer in its own right, according to the suit. By using Project Bernanke's inside information on what other ad buyers were willing to pay for space, Google could tailor its operations to beat out rivals and bid the bare minimum to secure ad inventory, the state reportedly alleges...
Separately, the filings reveal more details about Jedi Blue — an alleged hush-hush deal in which Google allegedly guaranteed that Facebook would win a fixed percentage of advertising deals in which the social media giant bid... Google also admitted that the deal required Facebook to spend $500 million or more in Google's Ad Manager or AdMob bids in the pact's fourth year, and that Facebook agreed to make efforts to win 10 percent of the auctions in which it competed, the WSJ said.
The arrangement appeared "to allow Facebook to bid and win more often in auctions," lawyers for Texas alleged in their filings.
Wot? (Score:4, Insightful)
Next you'll tell us the boss has a corner-office?
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a i.
a company that uses a i in its business model.
tells the world how bad a i is.
profit
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Oligarchs cheating with other oligarchs!? (Score:3, Insightful)
In all seriousness, this type of collusion is both commonplace and lucrative. No doubt some mid-level project managers will be put on the chopping block, both parties will pay a nominal fine, and they'll find another way to cheat.
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Mod parent funny, but the percentage of old jokes on today's Slashdot has become rather high.
Re:Oligarchs cheating with other oligarchs!? (Score:5, Interesting)
It is a solid example of exactly how corrupt Alphabet/Google truly are. They cheat every where they can, on taxes, on privacy, on investing, they are a corrupt fraudulent corporation who has proved they absolutely can not be trusted and clearly should be broken up, to minimise the risk from clearly a pack of psychopaths who have gained control of a major corporation and made it as corrupt as they are.
Probably best move, Alphabet must be destroyed and the bits of Google separated. This type of collusion is both corrupt and fraudulent and the person involved deserve extended custodial sentences, clearly fining corporations is of little benefit unless the decision makers receive extended custodial sentences.
They lock up shoplifters who steal a loaf of bread, why the fuck aren't corporate executives who steal hundreds of millions of dollars locked the fuck up.
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Doesn't matter whatsoever, Google has the politics (Score:4, Insightful)
Google has performed appropriately 'woke' political statements and actions for many years. They are seen amongst leftists as an important ally for internationalism, and leftists would shudder and fear the idea of a company like Google that was NOT an active ally for internationalism.
Since they are an important political ally, they can do pretty much what they want business-wise with no meaningful consequences. Every inquiry will be met with a cohesive wall of nothing-whatsoever, feet-dragging, quietness and acceptance.
Sure, people can find this offensive to have pointed out, claim it's trolling, rage, accuse, make any claim they want. Doesn't change that it has been true for years, and will continue to be true in the future.
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* They are seen amongst leftists as an important ally for internationalism, and leftists would shudder and fear the idea of a company like Google that was NOT an active ally for internationalism.*
Citation needed. Suddenly, because it fits your narrative, mega corporations are "leftist"?
Please don't generalize on what you believe people you don't like think. That's disgusting. Say what you believe and ask.
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The reason Google gets away with so much is that there really is no viable alternative. Even if my job was regulation, I'd personally want Google Search and Youtube to survive for my own personal benefit. I would be reluctant to do anything that could potentially ruin Google search.
I think the same thing happened with AT&T.
A Corrupt Advertising and Marketing (Score:2)
Its alright as long as its not the government (Score:2)
Do no evil (Score:1)
Or...
Couldn't keep it secret (Score:3)
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What if the conspiracy theory was that the advertising auctions were rigged by google and facebook?
Impossible (Score:2)
I haven't said this for a while (Score:2)