The European Commission has officially accused Google of unfair and monopolistic search practices and concerns regarding the way the giant company affects competition. The authorities have also launched an investigation into Google’s mobile service through Android apps and services.
The EU authorities have been investigating Google for years, and oftentimes the company has found itself at odds with regulators over privacy, competition, monopolistic practices and so on. After earlier reports this month hinting at this possibility, the Commission has sent a Statement of Objections to the company, which now has ten weeks to reply.
While this is far from a done deal, this step does represent a formal accusation from the European authorities. Google will now be required to address these concerns and change some of its practices or face further legal action and fines.
What’s more interesting is that the Commission and relevant authorities have launched investigations towards Android and the way the mobile operating system promotes Google services, apps and search results. This investigation may also last years but Google is already trying to address concerns and argue for its side, as seen in a recent internal memo.
Until now, All of Google’s offers to address some of the Commission’s and EU Parliament’s concerns have been seen as unsatisfactory. Whether the case goes further or Google and the EU find a compromise remains to be seen in the following weeks and months.
EU flags image via Shutterstock
86 Comments - Add comment