The New York Times reported, âA trans-Atlantic war of words â and profits â over the future of the Internet heated up on Wednesday when the head of Germanyâs largest publisher, Alex Springer,  admitted that âwe are afraid of Googleâ and suggested that European authorities were colluding with the American Internet giant to develop a âbusiness model that in less honorable circles would be called extortion.ââÂ
Döpfner penned the piece in response to an article by Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt, who defended Googleâs practices and pointed to âheavy-handed regulationâ in some places. Döpfner wrote, âWe are afraid of Google⦠I must say this so clearly and honestly since scarcely one of my colleagues dares to do this publicly. And as the biggest of the small fry, we must perhaps be the first to speak plainly in this debate.â
In the piece, he commented on the European Commissionâs antitrust investigation into the company. The New York Times reported, âAttacking what Mr. Schmidt had characterized as Googleâs willingness to forge a compromise with the European Commission over a four-year-old complaint about its practices, Mr. Döpfner starkly declared, âThis is not a compromise.ââ In the letter, he asked, âWill European politicians fold or wake up? Institutions in Brussels have never been as important as they are now.â
Google did not respond to a request for comment. For the full article, please see http://www.faz.net/aktuell/feuilleton/debatten/mathias-doepfner-s-open-letter-to-eric-schmidt-12900860.html