The planned agreement between Google and Verizon is causing a lot of stir. It's such a commotion that a Committee has been assigned by Congress to look into the matter. The issue is plain and simple: Should Google prioritize its services to the mobile phones of media giant Verizon as to other media devices such as, well, the computer?
At first, one may wonder what the Government has to do with such a private contract. The question appears more of a commercial than a legal one. Well, think again - what if this a step made by Google in order to "regulate" the Internet?
Years back, I read an article in Time Magazine depicting Google as a dark sky looming over the horizon. It basically discussed the plan of Google to dominate the Internet - literally! As an indication of that, Google has been toying with the idea of eliminating the need of operating softwares. Think of opening your computer - without the usual logging in to Windows or Mac - and just clicking the Google Chrome button connecting you to the Internet. Once there, you have everything you need - from Word, Powerpoint, Adobe, etc. The plan goes as far as phasing out the need for graphics card - can you just imagine that?!
Total dominance.
Obviously, the Internet is impressed with public interest. That's why the government may regulate or prohobit monopolies when the public interest so requires. In the 1987 Constitution, it is stated that no combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed. This is the possible angle that is being seen by the U.S. Congress which necessitated their closer look into the agreement. Now that's how the legislature should work unlike here which do not use their power to aid legislation but to feed their (weird) curiousity.
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