Google Said to Be Facing Record E.U. Fine by End of August
Along with a hefty fine, the company, whose online search services have a roughly 90 percent market share in Europe, may also
face "remedies," or changes dictated by the European Union’s competition authority on how it operates across the bloc.
While the investigations are limited to Google’s activities in Europe, the consequences for the company — whose digital search
and advertising businesses dominate in much of the world — could be far-reaching.
Here’s what you need to know about Google’s lengthy standoff with European competition authorities: Google’s rivals have long complained
that it has used its dominant position in online search to favor its other services, including restaurant recommendations and online maps.
By MARK SCOTTJUNE 16, 2017
European antitrust officials are preparing to hit Google with a potentially record fine by the end of August over
some of the Silicon Valley giant’s search services, according to two people with direct knowledge of the case.
As well as the fine, European officials could also force Google to alter how it operates in the region,
and potentially elsewhere, to give rivals a greater ability to compete.
That could include tweaking its search algorithms and other technology to give rivals greater prominence
in search queries, as well as greater regulatory oversight of its vast online businesses.
