Google’s antitrust saga in Europe could reach a new, dramatic climax next week as Parliament reportedly readies to propose a breakup of the company.
The Financial Times reportedly obtained a copy of a draft motion to separate Google’s search operations from the rest of its businesses, calling for the “unbundling [of] search engines from other commercial services” to reign in the company’s dominance.
It would be a drastic measure to solve a years-long investigation into Google’s search practices as companies accuse Google of abusing its market dominance by, among other allegations, displaying its own services in search results ahead of rivals’. The case, taken up by former European Commission competition chief Joaquin Almunia, gained significant controversy earlier this year when Almunia seemed poised to accept Google’s third round of concessions to settle the deal as consumer advocates and competitors decried the deal as insufficient.
Now, new competition chief Margrethe Vestager has inherited the case.
She has also inherited the complexities of the investigation, which has seen EU member states including Germany and France calling for a Google breakup and EU lawmakers debating about how the case should end.
Since taking her position, Vestager has said she would like to receive more input from interested parties in the case and would not rush towards a resolution.
Now, reports say Parliament is set to approve of the draft motion to vote on whether Google should break off its search operations from the rest of the company. Parliament, however, does not have the authority to force such a breakup, and reports note that calls for such action would face stiff opposition from many sides of the debate.
Full content: The Guardian
Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.
Featured News
T-Mobile Faces Class-Action Lawsuit Over Sprint Merger After Appeal Denied
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
Google Faces Backlash Over Introduction of AI-Generated Summaries in Searches
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
CMA Launches Phase 2 Probe into AlphaTheta’s Acquisition of Serato
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
NFL Executive Escapes Testifying in High-Stakes Trial Over Televised Games
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
EU Consumers Lodge Complaint Against Chinese Retailer Temu Over Content Rules Breach
May 16, 2024 by
CPI
Antitrust Mix by CPI
Antitrust Chronicle® – Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Mapping Antitrust onto Digital Ecosystems
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystems and Competition Law: A Law and Political Economy Approach
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Ecosystem Theories of Harm: What is Beyond the Buzzword?
May 9, 2024 by
CPI
Open Ecosystems: Benefits, Challenges, and Implications for Antitrust
May 9, 2024 by
CPI