EU: Google critics to see antitrust charge sheet this week

Nineteen Google critics are expected to get a copy of the EU’s anti-trust charge sheet against the search engine giant this week in order to allow them to provide feedback, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

The 19 companies, which include U.S. online travel site Expedia, U.S. consumer reviews website Yelp, online mapping service Hot-map and British price comparison site Foundem, helped triggered the European Commission’s case against Google nearly five years ago.

That culminated in the EU competition authority levying charges against the world’s most popular Internet search engine two months ago, raising the possibility of a fine of as much as $6.6 billion, 10 percent of its global turnover.

The Commission said Google had abused its market power and cheated consumers and competitors by distorting web search results to favor its own shopping service. The case could radically change the way the company operates in Europe.

Google has until July 7 to respond to the accusations.

Full content: Reuters

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