[Silhouette]

This is an interesting question for two-sided operations like Google and Facebook. Having a near-monopoly in online search also gives Google a near-monopsony in online search advertising. Likewise for Facebook with social networking.

I'm wary of introducing regulation without clear evidence of its necessity. However, there is a reasonable argument that if exploiting a monopoly to gain advantage in an adjacent market can be harmful, then exploiting a monopoly to gain an advantage in an opposing market could be harmful too. It therefore seems reasonable to ask whether the traditional applications of anti-trust principles are still appropriate for these huge modern tech markets.

[hueving]

I'm sorry, but what are you suggesting is harmful here?

[Silhouette]

Businesses too small to have a real point of contact with either Google or Facebook living or dying by the whims (or mistakes) of their algorithms, for one thing.

Prices paid by the advertisers more generally, for another. There are only two games in town, and both of them go out of their way to obscure what you're really getting in return for your money.