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The major Internet groups, “Amazon”, “Alphabet” (Google) and “Facebook”, again recorded huge profits in the last quarter of the year, despite political pressure and the Covid epidemic -19, but these billions and investments do not necessarily serve their interests against those responsible who call for its dismantling.
Sales from Amazon, the biggest winner in isolation measures, rose 37% to more than $ 96 billion in the third quarter of the year. But that did not arouse enthusiasm on the New York Stock Exchange, which had expected better performance, and the group’s stock fell 1.87% on Thursday.
And Seattle-based “Amazon” has announced it has created 400,000 jobs since the start of the year in all regions of the world, also noting “its intention to invest billions of dollars to help small and medium-sized businesses to succeed “in its popular market.
These groups are the subject of numerous investigations into their alleged anti-competitive practices. “What’s ironic is that good performance results (…) will reveal their excessive strength, and ultimately fuel enthusiasm for their dismantling in Washington,” said Daniel Eve of Wedbush Securities.
Essential
Alphabet and Facebook also made huge profits: Alphabet’s sales value rose to $ 46.2 billion, an increase of 14%, and made profits of $ 11.2 billion. dollars.
For its part, the social network “Facebook” made a net profit of 7.85 billion dollars, an increase of 29% compared to the previous quarter, despite the boycott of many large companies such as “Adidas” and “Coca” -Cola ”, in response to calls from non-governmental organizations concerned about the spread of Incitement to violence or hatred.
Although Facebook lost fewer users in the United States and Canada this summer than in the spring, more than 2.5 billion people worldwide log into at least one of its four applications daily (Facebook, Messenger, Instagram and WhatsApp), an increase of 15% compared to last year.
Mark Zuckerberg, founder of the network, referred to a hundred billion messages sent every day via WhatsApp, “stressing at the same time that he faces” intense competition in all areas “.
The US Department of Justice and 11 US states have launched lawsuits against the Alphabet Group for allegedly exploiting its dominant position. But the battle seems long.
“We believe that our products bring great benefits and we will promote them … but most of our energy remains focused on our users and making quality products,” Group president Sundar Pichai told analysts at the time. of a conference.
Tech companies have profited from the health crisis, which has made their services more important in everyday life. She constantly remembers that it would have been more difficult without her tools, much of which is provided free to the public.
Facebook test
Zuckerberg and his counterparts from the other two groups confronted “Twitter” and “Google” (YouTube), angry with US senators for their power and influence.
A few days before the November 3 elections in the United States, the blows were struck against the heads of technological groups that the right accused of “censoring” and the left of being lenient on the content.
Zuckerberg admitted Thursday that “next week will be a test for Facebook” to avoid using the platform again for disinformation campaigns like it did in 2016.
Faced with the authorities’ attacks on privacy, the site recognized the “need for new regulations on the personal suitability of advertising” which is at the heart of its business model.
But he also expressed concern that “some of the proposals, especially in Europe, and the measures being considered by companies like Apple could have negative effects on small and medium-sized businesses and the economic recovery in 2021”.
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