The antitrust case against Google continues, but in the meantime, the judge in this historic case has “saved” Chrome, which will not have to be sold off. What is up for sale, however, is user data – by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian by La Repubblica – Italian Tech Continue reading “Chrome is not Google’s monopoly tool”
Forcing the sale of Chrome and Android does not solve Google’s monopoly problem
Once again, the game is about access to user data, not software or operating systems. But the EU and data protection authorities are missing in action by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian on Italian Tech – La Repubblica Continue reading “Forcing the sale of Chrome and Android does not solve Google’s monopoly problem”
What does Google’s abandonment of gTLDs mean for net neutrality?
The American giant’s decision to use only the .com domain reopens the debate on jurisdiction, governance and net neutrality. An analysis of the technical and geopolitical implications that foreshadow a future of digital borders, selective blocking and new spheres of influence by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian on Italian Tech – La Repubblica Continue reading “What does Google’s abandonment of gTLDs mean for net neutrality?”
Meta’s threat is the result of European hypocrisy and cultural subordination to North American models
Like a sovereign state, Meta-Facebook is announcing possible “sanctions” against another (non-)sovereign state, the European Union, because of its policy choices on personal data protection. After decades of guilty inertia, some national data protection authorities (the Austrian and German ones, in particular) have woken up from their torpor and discovered that Google’s ecosystem creates some problems for the rights of citizens of EU Member States. Better late than never? Comments on the news superficially focused on the tired narrative of ‘privacy protection’ and the risk that US authorities might access data imported by Google. However, these analyses fail to grasp some structural aspects of the affair. by Andrea Monti – Initially published in Italian on Strategikon – an Italian Tech blog. Continue reading “Meta’s threat is the result of European hypocrisy and cultural subordination to North American models”
Staying Under the (Mainstream) Radar
Staying under mainstream radar while releasing meaningful and original contents is a good way to attract people actually interested in your activity, thus making easier – as Seth Godin said – turning strangers into friends and friends into customers.
An empirical look at the way people and companies use profiling and stats suggest that to get more traffic (i.e. pay-for-click ads) contents are shaped just to attract people rather than to provide actual information.
Think of the usual effects of looking at your analytics: you take note of the queries made by users and you shape your content accordingly, to be sure to attract people who use these words. The price you pay for being that “smart” is that you’re not the one who controls the content of your website because you let the users (or, better, Google) do it on your behalf.The result is that all websites are made equal and turned into some sort of digital brochure. In other words, is the tail that is wagging the dog.
Personally, I’m more at ease with Henry Ford’s quote
If I had asked people what they wanted, they would have said ?faster horses.?