Google Search charged with breaking EU antitrust rules
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Summary
Alphabet has been accused of violating antitrust laws by favoring its own services on Google search over those of its rivals in a preliminary EU ruling.
EU officials also said Alphabet had violated the Digital Markets Act by preventing app developers on the Google Play store from referring customers to other distribution channels.
Google and other big tech companies have been facing increasing scrutiny from EU regulators in recent years, most notably over antitrust issues.
The EU’s executive vice president for clean, just and competitive transition said Alphabet’s practices impacted many businesses, both within and outside Europe, thus undermining innovation and business opportunities for providers of digital services.
Alphabet will have the opportunity to challenge the charges or make changes to comply ahead of the EU’s final ruling, with fines of up to 10% of global annual revenue possible.