Google Antitrust Cases to be Concluded in the Next Few Months

In the next few months, European Union antitrust officials will decide whether Alphabet's Google exploited its superiority of search engines and other area. According to a senior official in the European Commission on Monday, the result could be a hefty fine.

Google, known as the world's most popular internet search engine, ever since 2010, has been in the Commission's net over allegations of promoting its own shopping facility in internet searches to the competitors’ detriment.

 

In 2016, the EU rival enforcer opened another front against Google. Google was accused of using its dominant Android mobile operating system to put other contenders at disadvantage.

A third charge was also leveled: blocking rivals in online search advertising. This relays to Google's "AdSense for Search" platform where Google performs as a middle agent for websites such as online stores, telecom operators or newspapers. In this regard searches produce results with search ads.

Tommaso Valletti who is the Commission's chief competition economist told the committee set up by the University of Oxford Centre for Competition Law and Policy, "In a few months, we will reach a consensus on the Google lawsuits, Google search, AdSense and the most interesting to me which is Android."

The Commission recently forewarned Google that if found guilty of contravening the antitrust laws it would be fined. Penalties could be up to a tenth of global turnover for each case for a year.

Last year Alphabet made total revenues of around $90 billion.

Google has previously denied those reports, assuring the public its inventions only made more alternatives available for European users and encouraged competition.

Three unsuccessful attempts were made in the past by Google to resolve the internet search case without any verdict of misconduct and sanctions with Joaquin Almunia, European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager's forerunner.