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.
Fine by End of August -
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.
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.
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.
The case, linked to claims that Google diverted traffic from competitors’ services to favor its own comparison shopping site, is one of three investigations
that the European Union’s executive arm has opened against the search giant.
