A PYMNTS Company

EU: Google job search service draws antitrust complaint

By  |  August 13, 2019

Google faces another antitrust allegation in the European Union—this time focused on its job search service. A group of 23 job search websites sent a letter to EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager claiming the search giant abused its dominant position at their expense, according to Reuters.

    Get the Full Story

    Complete the form to unlock this article and enjoy unlimited free access to all PYMNTS content — no additional logins required.

    yesSubscribe to our daily newsletter, PYMNTS Today.

    By completing this form, you agree to receive marketing communications from PYMNTS and to the sharing of your information with our sponsor, if applicable, in accordance with our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions.

    The company launched the service in 2017, and later amped it up by adding information on salary and the ability to search for jobs by location.

    The rival companies alleged that Google’s putting a large widget for its service at the top of people’s job searches is unfair because it doesn’t have to spend any money marketing the service, while traditional job search companies do. They asked Vestager to temporarily order Google to stop doing this while she looks into its practices, Reuters reported.

    “We confirm we have received the letter and we will assess it,” a European Commission spokesperson wrote in an emailed statement. Vestager, who has been examining job search on Google, leaves office October 31. But a person familiar with the review told Reuters that Vestager is preparing an “intensive” handover so that her successor does not drop it.

    Full Content: Reuters

    Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.