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The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has stated in an official report that Google has manipulated the results of its search engine to benefit itself and harm its rival companies. A separate report from one of its bureaus even argued that Google should be sued by the FTC.
The FTC report implies that Google's search engine contains the correct internal algorithms. However, the claim is that the tech giant altered the results of its users' searches.
Not only did Google's changes benefit itself, but it also negatively impacted its rivals' success, according to The Next Digit. Google took steps to remain the dominant search engine company in the industry.
Yelp, Google's top rival for users browsing for local businesses, has made past accusations that Google has shut out the competition in order to showcase its own products. Luther Lowe, a vice president of Yelp, argued that the FTC has "greenlighted" Google's "anti-consumer behavior."
However, while Google changed the search results, it did not alter the data of those results. Thus, it will be difficult to sue Google for any illegal wrongdoing.
Still, in a 2012 FTC report, one of its bureaus recommended that it should sue Google for "anticompetitive practices," according to New York Times. However, in early 2013 the FTC ultimately voted not to take legal action against Google.
Kent Waller, Google's Counsel, stated that the company often alters its searching algorithms. Because it provides its users with the best results possible the company will not cease doing that.
In terms of the spirit of the law, Google's actions could be perceived as unethical and an abuse of consumers' rights. But as per the letter of the law, Google altered no content and arguably gave its customers what they wanted. It's complicated.
