Civil War and Reconstruction

Almost every state in the US is suspicious of the power that Google wields over the American population, and they certainly have the right to think so. Google controls a lot more than just the top results when you search "how to change a tire." They also control the advertisements that pop up when you search for something as well as several websites and technology that you use daily, such as YouTube, DoubleClick, a Chromebook, or an Android smartphone. It seems that the Internet itself is Google, and one is certainly inclined to think so due to the amount of power Google holds over the Internet.

Many congressmen and congresswomen have chimed in on the situation of Google's supposed monopoly over the internet and advertising to increase their platform. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt noted that it was like buying a house, but Google owned the house, several houses on the same block, and was also the buyer's agent and the seller's agent. They controlled everything in the purchase, like it or not. Another attorney general, Leslie Rutledge of Arkansas, stated "when my daughter is sick and I search online for advice form doctors, I want the best ones, not the ones who spent the most on advertising." This emphasizes the fact that Google has total control over what results are shown when a search is made, giving the top result spots for the companies that paid Google the most money.

The Attorney Generals want to see Google's power lessened or more evenly distributed among other areas instead of monopolizing the internet, but unfortunately this will prove to be a difficult task. If a state government or the federal government were to issue a rule or law against Google and its many services, it would be a violation of the 14th Amendment, specifically the Privileges and Immunities Clause. The government cannot restrict a person's rights or access to the privileges granted to American citizens, and the Internet can classify as a privilege. Though it may be inconvenient that Google owns a major portion of the Internet and the tech and services that accompany it, the government cannot change that directly, as it is made of a corporate body and qualifies as a person.

However, the Attorney Generals in the 48 states investigating Google are taking a better approach to the situation and are launching antitrust investigations in an attempt to discover if Google broke any laws getting to where they are now. This process is entirely legal, but if they find something incriminating against Google, the government cannot restrict them in any way that violates the 14th Amendment. It is a tricky balance, but one that is certainly doable.

Source: CBS News