On: Google removed Organic Maps from the Play Store

[palata]

Feels unrelated to me. The problem here is that the entity that owns Google Maps also owns the Google Play Store, and uses their ownership of the Google Play Store to favour Google Maps versus competitors.

Even without a monopoly, it should be illegal for the owner of a popular app store to promote their products like this.

They just need to get big fat fines when they do it. But of course, "it was an unfortunate mistake". Or we should just split them: Google Maps could be out of Google.

[fmajid → palata]

The answer to that is "structural separation". Remove even the possibility of conflict of interest by forcing divestiture.

[eitally → palata]

I don't think it's true that the Google Play Store favors Google-created apps. In fact, while it may have happened, I can't even remember a time that the Play Store recommended a Google app to me.

[bmicraft → eitally]

Google will never "accidentally" or even because of a justified policy remove any of their own apps from the store. That's a big favor right there.

[palata → bmicraft]

But on top of that, it is documented that Google does exactly that kind of things. Organic Maps being an example here.

[palata → eitally]

Is that sarcasm? You forgot the /s.