Google controls mine as search and gmail and chrome are major ways that I communicate with others. It’s difficult not to use them because my employer and many sites require chrome.
I’m not sure what the gmail market share is, but chrome and search are over 50% and they’ve used that market position to harm users (showing ads for their own products until you choose chrome) and harm competitors (showing their own ads above competitors).
Google absolutely controls communication. Two examples,
Example 1: GMail. Google uses the mass adoption of GMail as a cudgel. It's no longer possible to independently host email without being marked as spam or rate limited by Google, https://tutanota.com/blog/posts/gmail-independent-email
The parent clearly noted they do not use Google services voluntarily, but are required to by their employer and various websites. Which is exactly the reason for antitrust.
Even if you personally don't use GMail, a considerable amount of personal emails have at least one participant who uses it. Every social person who uses email has some of their communication read by Google. People who like hyperbole will phrase that as all of their communication is data mined and therefore controlled.
moreover - as someone who doesn't use gmail - I'm subject to their capricious and unknowable policies about incoming mail. they get to decide if I can actually speak to half the internet.
I have no control on my accointances using gmail, nor than I control the fact that key services only make their website chrome-only and their mobile app available only on the Google play store.
There’s different levels of control. I think control means affect how I communicate.
I can’t communicate anything I want as chrome blocks certain apps from installing. And gmail blocks some communication. And search filters results from what I want to find. Etc etc.
I’m not sure what the gmail market share is, but chrome and search are over 50% and they’ve used that market position to harm users (showing ads for their own products until you choose chrome) and harm competitors (showing their own ads above competitors).