EU launches probe into complaints Google abused dominant position

LONDON - The European Commission has launched a probe into complaints by other search engines that Google had abused its dominant position.

The probe follows complaints by firms including price comparison site Foundem and legal search engine ejustice.fr, and the EC will examine whether it penalised competing services in its results.

Google has denied the allegations but said it would work with the Commission to “address any concerns” arising from claims it manipulates its search results.

“The European Commission has decided to open an antitrust investigation into allegations that Google has abused a dominant position in online search,” the BBC quoted the body as saying in a statement.

“The action followed complaints by search service providers about unfavourable treatment of their services in Google’s unpaid and sponsored search results coupled with an alleged preferential placement of Google’s own services,” it stated.

The European Commission’s competition watchdog has quite a track record with tech companies. Microsoft and Intel both suffered blows and had to pay massive fines.

To determine the outcome the Commission will have to look closely at Google’s all-important search algorithm, the rules that determine whether your company shows up high or low in Google’s search results.

Google regularly tweaks this algorithm, and as it changes the ranking it can make or break companies, now to pin down the US search giant, the Commission will have to find fault, either in the algorithm itself, or in Google’s e-mail trail.

The Commission’s investigation does not imply any wrongdoing by Google.

“Since we started Google we have worked hard to do the right thing by our users and our industry,” the firm said in a statement.

“But there’s always going to be room for improvement, and so we’ll be working with the Commission to address any concerns,” it stated. (ANI)