Dennis Schaal, Skift
Google clearly places its own travel businesses front and center in its search results to the detriment of competitors. Google argues that this benefits consumers. If you buy that argument, then you also probably believe that Google always knows best.
3 months ago
Associated Press
Normally we'd say this is a typical congressional letter to a regulator that will come to nothing. After all, TripAdvisor has already started placing notifications above hotel listings where there are allegations of rampant crime. However, this is Trump's Federal Trade Commission, the one that will likely gut net neutrality rules. So all bets are off.
12 months ago
Jennifer Jacobs and David McLaughlin, Bloomberg
If European regulators slap Google with a multi-billion dollar fine over its search practices, will the U.S. Federal Trade Commission or Justice Department just sit back and watch the action from a far. Expedia, TripAdvisor, Yelp and many others have a keen interest in the pick to head the FTC.
1 year ago
Dan Peltier, Skift
There are many travel brands that are seemingly in violation of the U.S. Federal Trade Commission's new native ad guidelines on how to disclose when social media influencers were paid. Consumers appreciate brands more when they're transparent and develop deeper connections with influencers when they know what they truly support and enjoy when they're not being paid.
2 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
The European regulatory probe of Google on several fronts is putting pressure on the U.S.'s FTC to jump into the fray after bowing out under less-than-stellar circumstances a few years ago. Still, don't expect any meaningful changes in Google's practices until the regulatory processes likely wind through the courts.
2 years ago
Andrew Sheivachman, Skift
While the Truth in Hotel Advertising Act has yet to gain any support in Congress, it represents a blow to ubiquity of hotel resort fees and other surcharges that are traditionally tacked on at the end of a hotel stay.
3 years ago
Jonathan Stempel, Reuters
With this Wyndham settlement, the FTC has put businesses on notice that they must adhere to certain standards on data security.
3 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Travel companies speaking out against the all-powerful Google walk a thin line because they are dependent on Google to widely varying degrees. They now have an apparent ally in the European Commission while the U.S. FTC opted out.
4 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
TripAdvisor still spends a lot of money with Google so Kaufer's condemnation of Google's practices stands out. Others have been more circumspect.
4 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
U.S. and European antitrust authorities have collaborated in their respective probes of Google. Strong antitrust regulatory action in Europe could rekindle interest in the U.S., assuming Google's lobbyists are unsuccessful in squelching it.
4 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Google was adamant that it needed to compete in local search and it didn't mind playing hardball with Yelp, TripAdvisor, CitySearch, and others to get its way.
4 years ago
Dennis Schaal, Skift
Google dodged a bullet in 2013 when the FTC terminated its antitrust probe without forcing meaningful concessions or filing suit. Now we know that the rank and file within the FTC wanted to fight it out with Google in court.
4 years ago