US: With closed EU case, Google crackdown may bounce back to US

Following European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia’s controversial decision to accept Google’s concession offer and settle the case into its search practices, reports say Google may yet again be facing legal action in the US.

Consumer advocacy group Consumer Watchdog has reportedly called upon Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to pursue an antitrust case against Google over alleged anticompetitive methods of displaying search results.

The US Federal Trade Commission settled with Google last year over similar allegations over the way the company displays rival search results. Since, states have launched their own investigations into Google, but had placed those cases on hold until the case in the EU was resolved.

Almunia recently accepted Google concessions without market tests and without fines against the company.

Now, Market Watchdog is urging Texas to pick up its law suit against Google again in response to the EU resolution.

”Federal regulators failed to act in a meaningful way and the European settlement, if finally approved, does nothing for the United States,” the group said. ”It is incumbent upon the state attorneys general under your leadership to act decisively to protect consumers.”

Full Content: PRNewswire

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