Google to face EU allegations of violating historical antitrust rules: Report

The Google Alphabet unit is decided to be charged with violations of EU rules that aim to control the power of large technology as the proposed changes in its research fails failed to address the concerns of the EU regulator and those of rivals His, three people with direct knowledge of the matter said.

The European Commission’s move comes amid tensions with President Trump who has biased American technology giants lobbying against EU regulations and criticizing fines as a form of tariffs. On the other hand, this has caused concerns that the EU supervisor can be facilitated in the Big Tech.

The European Commission has investigated Google for possible violations of digital market law since March last year.

An investigation focuses on whether Google favors its vertical search engines such as Google Shopping, Google Flegs and Google Hotels on rivals, and if discriminating against third party services in Google search results.

Immediate charges were about the matter, people said.

The EU competition supervisor refused to comment. Google referred to a December blog post by its director, Emea Compection, Oliver Bethell, who said the company is working to find a balanced solution with the commission.

Bethell said that more changes in Google search score format to calm rivals can result in removing some useful features.

The technology giant in recent months has announced a series of changes in search results formats in an effort to address contradictory requirements from price comparison sites, hotels, airlines and retailers. Most of them have rejected proposals as not in line with DMA.

EU antitrust regulators are also not satisfied with Google’s threat to restore blue links to search results if it cannot resolve rivals’ requirements, said one of the sources.

DMA prohibits Google from favoring its own products and services on its platforms or facing a fine of up to 10% of its annual global income.

DMA fees are likely to be sent to Google following decisions in the coming months in separate investigations on Apple and Meta platforms, which are more advanced, one of the sources said.

Other DMA Investigation aims at possible restrictions that prevent app developers from informing users about offers outside Google App Store.