February 25, 2016 at 15:30The irony of fate: 7 years ago, Google helped EU regulators drown Microsoft, and now the EU is drowning Google
Exactly 7 years ago, Internet company Google officially supported the European Commission ’s allegations against Microsoft . Then the EU’s dissatisfaction was caused by Microsoft’s policy to promote Internet Explorer browser along with distributions of Windows operating systems.
According to European officials, the American software giant deliberately linked IE and Windows, forcing users to use this particular browser. And this is a violation of antitrust laws, since the browser market is a competitive environment.
Today, the situation turned against Google itself, writesRe / code. Sundar Pichai, CEO of the company, is meeting with representatives of European regulators, including Margret Westher, European Commissioner for Competition. The EU is getting closer to pushing the American corporation to the wall.
Google is suspected of violating EU antitrust laws in the advertising market. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.
It is noted that the European Commission is looking for evidence of the exclusive conditions on which the company operates. A striking example of such an arrangement is the agreement between Google and Apple , under which Google became the default search in iPhone phones. For this, the company paid $ 1 billion.
In April 2015, the companyaccused of unfair promotion of their own services by distorting search results. The corporation took advantage of the dominant position in the markets for general Internet search for services, constantly promoting its own services (or partner services) in search results. In August, representatives of the European Commission sent questionnaires to participants in the European market to find out their opinion on changes in Google’s policies since 2010. Respondents were also asked for copies of their advertising agreements with Google over the past four years.
EU authorities also collect materials on methods for promoting the Google Android mobile operating system. If a violation of antitrust laws is revealed, companies will face a billionth fine, in addition, regulators may require Google to change business practices.
Today, the French authorities demanded that the American Internet giant pay 1.6 billion euros in compensation for unpaid taxes. According to Agence France Presse, the Google leadership intends to discuss the terms of payment with the French authorities and may transfer only a fraction of the amount.
Earlier, Google agreed to pay 130 million pounds ($ 181 million) in tax compensation to the British authorities. However, the department considered this amount "disproportionately small compared to the volume of Google’s business in the UK," The Guardian reported yesterday.
The trial with Google will become the European Commission's loudest antitrust case after a similar story with Microsoft, which was ultimately fined $ 1.8 billion. If the European Commission finds evidence and admits that Google has violated antitrust laws, the company can be fined up to 10% of annual turnover (in 2015, the company's revenue amounted to $ 74.5 billion).
According to European officials, the American software giant deliberately linked IE and Windows, forcing users to use this particular browser. And this is a violation of antitrust laws, since the browser market is a competitive environment.
Today, the situation turned against Google itself, writesRe / code. Sundar Pichai, CEO of the company, is meeting with representatives of European regulators, including Margret Westher, European Commissioner for Competition. The EU is getting closer to pushing the American corporation to the wall.
Google is suspected of violating EU antitrust laws in the advertising market. This was reported by Bloomberg, citing sources familiar with the situation.
It is noted that the European Commission is looking for evidence of the exclusive conditions on which the company operates. A striking example of such an arrangement is the agreement between Google and Apple , under which Google became the default search in iPhone phones. For this, the company paid $ 1 billion.
In April 2015, the companyaccused of unfair promotion of their own services by distorting search results. The corporation took advantage of the dominant position in the markets for general Internet search for services, constantly promoting its own services (or partner services) in search results. In August, representatives of the European Commission sent questionnaires to participants in the European market to find out their opinion on changes in Google’s policies since 2010. Respondents were also asked for copies of their advertising agreements with Google over the past four years.
EU authorities also collect materials on methods for promoting the Google Android mobile operating system. If a violation of antitrust laws is revealed, companies will face a billionth fine, in addition, regulators may require Google to change business practices.
Today, the French authorities demanded that the American Internet giant pay 1.6 billion euros in compensation for unpaid taxes. According to Agence France Presse, the Google leadership intends to discuss the terms of payment with the French authorities and may transfer only a fraction of the amount.
Earlier, Google agreed to pay 130 million pounds ($ 181 million) in tax compensation to the British authorities. However, the department considered this amount "disproportionately small compared to the volume of Google’s business in the UK," The Guardian reported yesterday.
The trial with Google will become the European Commission's loudest antitrust case after a similar story with Microsoft, which was ultimately fined $ 1.8 billion. If the European Commission finds evidence and admits that Google has violated antitrust laws, the company can be fined up to 10% of annual turnover (in 2015, the company's revenue amounted to $ 74.5 billion).