US: FTC says it regrets release of documents on Google probe

Three U.S. Federal Trade Commission members said on Wednesday they regretted the inadvertent release of part of an agency report about its probe of Google as the company continues to face antitrust scrutiny from European authorities.

The document, which was at the centre of a report by The Wall Street Journal, indicated that key staff members at the FTC were in favour of suing Google for allegedly breaking antitrust law. The agency settled with the search and advertising company in early 2013, with all five commissioners ultimately deciding not to sue.

In a statement, three of the commissioners — Chairwoman Edith Ramirez, Julie Brill and Maureen Ohlhausen — defended the final outcome.

“Contrary to recent press reports, the commission’s decision on the search allegations was in accord with the recommendations of the FTC’s Bureau of Competition, Bureau of Economics, and Office of General Counsel,” the commissioners said. The commissioners considered that Google has abided by their commitments, outlined in a letter by then Chairman of Google,Jon Leibovitz.

The agency said that it regretted the release of the documents, which were confidential and should not have been included in a response to a Freedom of Information Act request.

Full Content: NBC News

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