[BearGoesChirp]

> there's nothing wrong with that either (they have the right to fund or not fund what they want)

There is a limit to this.

For example, I have the right to ask you for money. I have the right to report or not report a crime I saw you commit. But if I tie those two activities together, it becomes blackmail and is illegal, despite no single action being wrong on its own.

Google has a lot of power, and they are abusing it. It may not be illegal under current law, but they cannot hide behind the defense that each micro interaction is their right.

[kbenson]

> > there's nothing wrong with that either (they have the right to fund or not fund what they want)

> There is a limit to this.

Yes, that would be why the words immediately following what you quoted were "The problem is if Google dictated Slaughter's actions".

> For example, I have the right to ask you for money. I have the right to report or not report a crime I saw you commit. But if I tie those two activities together, it becomes blackmail and is illegal, despite no single action being wrong on its own.

No,it becomes blackmail when one action is dependent on the other. Two actions occurring in proximity to each other do not mean they are linked. It's entirely possible the crime wasn't known about until after someone was asked for money.

This is part of the problem. People are stuck in the "if there's smoke, there's fire" mindset, and we aren't sure if we're just seeing fog.