[nugget]

Ecosia has its own narrative to push but the real problem is much deeper than that.

By setting up an auction system, Google has effectively ensured that ALL of the options on the screen will be Google search syndication partners, because no primary search competitor (Bing/Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu) can afford to compete in EU countries. Google will give up some app market share but all search traffic will flow back to them at what is likely to be a very low TAC. If I'm Google, I just view this new TAC as part of a separate, on-going EU fine.

Google is very clever in their approach to these regulatory challenges. However, the EU anti trust authorities are more aware and empowered than ever before. It will be interesting to watch how this develops.

[asdfasgasdgasdg]

> because no competitor (Bing/Yahoo, Yandex, Baidu) can afford to compete in EU countries

You're saying that Google syndicators value a unit of traffic more highly than Bing/Yahoo/Yandex/Baidu do? That does not seem especially likely to me. Perhaps in some small countries, but I would be surprised if Bing, Yandex, and Baidu don't bid in e.g. France, Germany, etc.

[throwaway2048]

The value goes beyond a unit of traffic alone if you can use it to help maintain an effective monopoly, as opposed to trying to compete with one.

Its the very definition of what makes a monopoly dangerous, the ability to outspend any competitor and force them out of the market.