EU: Rivals questioned yet again in Google probe

European competition chief Margrethe Vestager announced at a press conference that competitors of search giant Google have been questioned by authorities as the European Commission mulls whether to ramp up its investigation into the company.

Rivals involved in Internet maps and travel were consulted “in order to get fresh information because it was quite a while” since the EU authority had obtained information in the case, Vestager said. She added that she had not yet decided whether to abandon settlement talks and send an official statement of objections to the firm.

Experts say Vestager brings a fresh look at the case after four years of the investigation, which nearly landed a settlement earlier this year by former EU competition chief Joaquin Almunia.

But a settlement appears further away since Vestager took the reins. Just weeks ago the European Parliament voted in favor of calling on the Commission to force Google to unbundle its search operations from the rest of the company.

Full content: Bloomberg

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