A senior German government minister is advocating for the dismantling of Google, expressing optimism that the United States may ultimately support such action. Wolfram Weimer, Minister for Culture and Media, voiced his concerns in a recent podcast interview, highlighting what he described as an unacceptable concentration of power, media influence and opinion formation within a single American platform.
Weimer, previously a media executive himself, argued that Google actively suppresses competition of ideas, deeply impacting collective decision-making processes. He questioned the current state of affairs, suggesting its implications for societal discourse.
The issue also carries significant economic consequences, according to Weimer. He asserted that monopolies are detrimental, pointing to the erosion of advertising revenue for independent media outlets – including local newspapers, magazines, television and radio stations – siphoned off by Google and its AI-powered search engine, Gemini. Framing himself as an advocate of free market principles, Weimer invoked the legacy of Ludwig Erhard, a prominent figure in postwar German economics, suggesting even Erhard would support breaking up Google.
Drawing parallels with past US regulatory actions, Weimer pointed to historical precedent in other critical sectors. He cited the American government’s actions a century ago to dissolve a near-monopoly in the energy industry, as well as subsequent interventions in the oil and banking sectors. He countered the perception that the US consistently prioritizes large capital, emphasizing instead a core belief in competition.
While acknowledging that intervention under the current US administration might be challenging, Weimer predicts a shift in public sentiment within the next decade, potentially leading to majority support for breaking up Google within the United States. He anticipates a growing movement demanding action, ultimately reshaping the landscape of digital power.
