Critics call on feds to squelch a Google monopoly [Video]

Microsoft and Consumer Watchdog advocate action to level the search playing field

Credit: Shutterstock / Jay Fog

With Google squarely in their sights, Microsoft and advocate group Consumer Watchdog have joined the chorus of voices calling on the government to take measures to prevent a search monopoly — or to deal with the one that already exists.

The concerns set forth by Microsoft, Consumer Watchdog, and other observers go beyond whether Google gives unfair prominence in search rankings to paid advertisers. Critiques range from “A company such a Google could abuse its search dominance” to “Google is already abusing its search dominance” to push its other revenue-generating services — such as maps, video, and shopping searches — at the expense of competitors.

[ Also on InfoWorld.com: Google refutes criticism about Android fragmentation. ]

As reported by Ars Technica, Microsoft weighed in on the issue in comments sent to the FCC last week, responding to the group’s inquiry about the Future of Media in a …