mo4ch:>EU keeps piling on fines on Google, slapping tech giant $1.7bn for blocking rivals' ads | Mo4ch News
Google has been hit with a €1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) fine by the European Union. The sanction marks the third antitrust penalty against the Big Tech firm in less than three years.The European Commission (EC) accused the California-based company of abusing its dominant position by banning third-party rivals from displaying search ads and favoring its own shopping comparison service, according to EC Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager.“Google has cemented its dominance in online search adverts and shielded itself from competitive pressure by imposing anti-competitive contractual restrictions on third-party websites. This is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” Vestager said, speaking in Brussels Wednesday.The decision to fine Google reportedly came after a seven-year investigation into its search algorithms. The fine accounts for 1.29 percent of Google’s turnover in 2018.“The misconduct lasted over 10 years and denied other companies the possibility to compete on the merits …