There’s “enough evidence to call policymakers into immediate action” against Google’s...

searches toward its own services, at much higher rates than other search engines: “Based on our preliminary statistical analysis, this study finds the disparity in these search results to be statistically significant and warrant a comprehensive analysis. To this last point, while Yahoo and Bing cite each other and both cite Google in equal proportions, Google’s search engine is twice as likely to cite itself and less likely to cite its competitors.” The report ticks off a litany of Google gaffes, such as the “Wi-Spy” data-collection incident by Street View vehicles, “knowingly advertising illegal products” such as pharmaceuticals without a prescription and collecting information from iPhones in violation of the device’s privacy settings. “In terms of structure, Google so dominates its markets that rivals face barriers to entry that preclude competitive market rivalry,” the white paper said. “If Google’s search engine is not a ‘fair search’ then Google can influence what we read, where we shop and ultimately what we pay online.” Such behind-the-scenes maneuvering must be disclosed to consumers or, in the case of unauthorized personal data collection, stopped by policymakers, the institute said. The report was co-written by Steve Pociask, a former chief economist for Bell Atlantic who also is on the FCC’s Consumer Advocacy Committee. The group said by email it would distribute the report “widely to interested third parties, Members of Congress, and key Hill committee staff."