A recent advertising partnership between search giant Google and competitor Yahoo has antitrust authorities worried. Not only does a Google-Yahoo deal look ridiculous in name, but critics (such as Microsoft) say the partnership would consolidate Google’s control of Internet search ad revenue to a whopping 90 percent of U.S. market share.


The Guardian:

US anti-trust regulators have opened an investigation into Yahoo’s search advertising partnership with Google to examine if the $800m (£403m) a year deal restricts competition in the market.

Justice Department investigators behind the anti-trust probe will take evidence from Google, Yahoo and other large companies in the internet and media sectors, according to a report in today’s Washington Post.

Google controls 60% of the total number of internet searches made in the US, while Yahoo is the second ranked player accounting for 16.6%.

Last month Yahoo struck a 10-year deal to allow Google to put some search advertising next to its search listings.

Read more

WAIT, BEFORE YOU GO…

If you're reading this, you probably already know that non-profit, independent journalism is under threat worldwide. Independent news sites are overshadowed by larger heavily funded mainstream media that inundate us with hype and noise that barely scratch the surface. We believe that our readers deserve to know the full story. Truthdig writers bravely dig beneath the headlines to give you thought-provoking, investigative reporting and analysis that tells you what’s really happening and who’s rolling up their sleeves to do something about it.

Like you, we believe a well-informed public that doesn’t have blind faith in the status quo can help change the world. Your contribution of as little as $5 monthly or $35 annually will make you a groundbreaking member and lays the foundation of our work.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG