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EU slaps third anti-trust charge on tech giant Google

Reuters
Brussels, BelgiumUpdated: Jul 14, 2016, 12:08 PM IST
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Google does not have the right to deny other companies the chance to compete and innovate: EU. In photo: Tech giant's headquarters in Mountain View, California. Photograph:(Getty)
European Union (EU) regulators brought a third antitrust charge against Alphabet Inc's Google today accusing it of blocking rivals in the lucrative online search advertising market. 

The European Commission also reinforced its existing charge against the world's most popular internet search engine that its search results favour Google's own shopping service over that of rivals. 

"Google has come up with many innovative products that have made a difference to our lives. But that doesn't give Google the right to deny other companies the chance to compete and innovate," European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager told a news conference in Brussels.

The Commission said it had sent two "statements of objections" to Google.

Google could face fines up to 10 per cent of its global turnover 

The new chargesheet accuses Google of having abused its dominant position by artificially preventing third-party websites from displaying search advertisements from its competitors.

This relates to Googles "AdSense for Search" platform, in which Google acts as an intermediary for websites such as those of online retailers, telecoms operators or newspapers, with searches producing results that include search ads. 

"We have also raised concerns that Google has hindered competition by limiting the ability of its competitors to place search adverts on third-party websites, which stifles consumer choice and innovation," Vestager said.

The EU's pursuit of Google, along with probes into other US multinationals over tax issues and control of personal data, has caused irritation in Washington, with President Barack Obama last year accusing Europe of veering toward protectionism.

Vestager, a former Danish economy minister who took over as the EU's powerful antitrust commissioner in late 2014, insists she is simply applying the law and promoting free competition. 

Google's AdWords and AdSense programmes have been on the Commissions radar since 2010, under Vestagers predecessor, after rivals complained about unfair advertising exclusivity clauses and undue restrictions on other advertisers.

They form the core of Google's business which posted about $75 billion in revenue last year, the vast bulk of Alphabets total annual revenue.

The Commission also said it had reinforced its earlier preliminary conclusion that Google had abused its dominant position by systematically favouring its comparison shopping service in its search result pages.

Google could face fines up to 10 per cent of its global turnover for each case if found guilty of breaching the blocs antitrust rules. Google said it believe it increased choice for European consumers and increased choice. "Well examine the Commission's renewed cases and provide a detailed response in the coming weeks," a Google spokesman said

(Reuters)