Google and Monopoly
The following article originally appeared in Thann’s “The Equipped” Weekly Newsletter. For more information on Thann’s weekly email, click here.
Google, one of the largest companies in the world, is facing the possibility of a court-mandated breakup after its search engine was found to be a monopoly. Breaking up the company is just one of several possible remedies put forward this week in response to the underlying ruling by a U.S. District Court in August. However, in separate cases, Google was also found to be operating with an illegal monopoly in its Android app store, and is facing allegations of a monopoly in its advertising practices. Google is defending its business practices and argues that consumers benefit from the billions of dollars the company invests in proprietary technology.
Analysis and eternal perspective: Technology, and especially information technology, can be one of the most difficult challenges for Jesus followers to navigate. On one hand, our connectedness makes it possible for each of us to instantly (and creatively) share the Gospel with people all around the world. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he thanks God for them “because your faith is being reported all over the world” (Rom. 1:8). That is a pretty astounding statement in biblical times when most people never interacted with anyone living more than a few miles away! Today, however, you have the ability to instantly and economically communicate with people all around the globe. There is immense power for good in that!
On the other hand, this constant connectedness can threaten the depth of our interpersonal relationships and can also easily overwhelm us. When we are constantly connected to everyone, there is the risk of not being deeply connected to anyone—including our God who made us for the very purpose of connecting with Him (Is. 43:21).
So regardless of what the legal system determines Google must do in terms of allowing competition to its technology, you and I must wrestle with how we will steward both the blessing and the challenge of technology. Let’s use this story as an opportunity to sincerely evaluate our intimacy with God and with those closest to us.
“My beloved is mine and I am his” (Song of Songs 2:16).