EU: Almunia offers stern update on drawn-out Google case

In fighting criticism from some of Google’s biggest rivals, European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia offered an interview this week to assure that he is investigating the search giant and its second round of concessions, responding to companies accusing Almunia of a lenient dealing of the case.

Almunia gave an exclusive interview with UK paper The Guardian to offer an update of the investigation, which began in 2010 to probe allegations that Google is abusing its dominance in the way it displays search results.

Since the start of that investigation, Google has offered two rounds of concessions; the first was rejected by the Commission, but both were slammed by Google rivals as inadequate.

Now, critics claim the investigation has gone on too long, and that Almunia is too lenient with Google, allowing the company – which escaped major sanctions by US authorities in a similar case earlier this year – to dictate the advancement of the probe.

In an interview, Almunia told a reporter “sharply” that he is “investigating” Google, “not defending them.”

The Commissioner offered an updated timeline of the potential completion of the case, saying a decision may not be reached until the “first part” of 2014, though did not declare a more definitive deadline.

Full Content: The Guardian

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