Brazil: Microsoft complaint kicks-off latest Google dominance abuse probe

Brazil’s antitrust regulator CADE announced Friday it was investigating Google for allegations of anticompetitive behavior in the way the company reveals search results, following a complaint lodged by Microsoft in the nation.

A spokesperson for Google confirmed the probe, which is similar to a case launched by the European Commission.

According to reports, Microsoft, as well as other rivals in Brazil, are accusing Google of favoring its own product listings over rivals’ in its search results, among other claims. Microsoft’s complaint alleged Google of giving an unfair advantage over competitors to its AdWords advertising service by blocking ad campaigns across rival search engines.

Reports say the advertising makes up 95 percent of Google’s revenue.

Other complaints were lodged with CADE by price comparison sites Buscapé and Bondfardo.

The investigation marks the next development in a trend of intensifying scrutiny of major US internet firms by Brazilian regulators, say reports.

Full Content: Reuters

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