Google to be hit with antitrust charges by the EU, could face $6bn fines
Tech giant is accused of siphoning traffic from its competitors to its own search-engine service
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Your support makes all the difference.The European Union is set to file formal charges against Google Inc. for allegedly violating the blo's antitrust laws, according to people familiar with the charges.
Margrethe Vestager, the European Commission’s competition commissioner, made the decision on Tuesday to file charges against Google that could result in up to $6 billion in fines, the Wall Street Journal reported.
Google is being charged with violating antitrust laws by allegedly siphoning traffic from its competitors to its own search-engine services. Many in the European technology industry claim that Google’s practices have stunted the growth of smaller, home-grown tech companies.
If Google is found guilty it could be forced to make massive changes to the way it conducts business in Europe, in addition to the possibility of fines.
The antitrust charges are the culmination of a five-year EU investigation into the business practices of the internet behemoth. Google nearly succeeding in settling the case without such charges last year, but a settlement fell apart after objections from some EU ministers and the European technology industry.
“The European Commission’s issuance of a Statement of Objections laying out specific charges against Google would represent a significant step towards ending Google’s anti-competitive practices, which have harmed innovation and consumer choice,” Thomas Vinje, Legal Counsel and Spokesman for FairSearch Europe, said in a written statement.
Ms Vestager decided to file charges against Google after speaking with European Commissioner President Jean-Claude Juncker and she will brief EU commissioners on Wednesday, according to reports.
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