EU: Commission seeks opinion of Google’s toughest critics

Before the European Commission accepts Google’s second round of concessions and ends its antitrust probe into the search giant over allegations of dominance abuse, the regulator is now seeking the opinions of Google’s toughest critics.

Reports say the Commission confirmed Monday that it would send information requests to Google rivals before accepting the company’s offer. Google has been the subject of a nearly three-year investigation into allegations of dominance abuse in the way Google presents its search results.

The Commission rejected Google’s first offer last July following backlash from rivals, who said the offer would only reinforce Google’s market position.

This time around, Google has reportedly offered to display rivals’ logos in search results, and make rivals’ links more prominent. Further, the company has offered to let advertisers to use their campaigns on other platforms.

Google also offered to hire an external monitor to oversee the process, similar to the watchdog appointed to oversee Apple Inc’s business practices in the US following a ruling that found Apple guilty of fixing eBooks prices.

According to the Commission, information from “all those who responded to the initial market test of Google’s proposals” will be considered particularly important for the watchdog.

Full content: Reuters

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