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IPFS News Link • Business/ Commerce

Europe is about to drop the boom on Google

• http://www.businessinsider.com,

Antitrust officials at the European Commission are expected to "file formal charges" against the search giant soon, reports the Wall Street Journal.

Earlier this week, a leaked report from the FTC showed that key staffers at the agency wanted to sue Google after their probe in 2012, saying it abused its monopoly power. They said that Google threatened to remove websites from its Search feature if companies like Amazon and Yelp didn't comply and let Google use their content.

But after Google made some changes, FTC commissioners unanimously voted to not bring charges and the investigation was closed.

But in Europe, the antitrust probe continues. Google has a 90% plus search share in the European market — but it also has a caustic relationship with authorities on the continent. In November, the European Parliament decided in a non-binding vote to break up Google and spin off the company's Search component. Google is at least aware of the hostile regulatory climate it faces in Europe — in February, Google overhauled its European operations and appointed a single executive at its head.


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