Vestager To Meet With Apple CEO Next Week

Alphabet Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai will meet Europe’s antitrust chief on March 30 to discuss competition and digital issues, a European Commission official said on Thursday.

Alphabet confirmed the meeting with the EU’s top competition official.

Margrethe Vestager has handed out more than 8 billion euros ($8.8 billion) in fines to the world’s most popular internet search engine in the last decade for hindering rivals in shopping comparison websites and online search advertising, and over its Android mobile operating system.

She is also investigating Alphabet unit Google’s digital advertising business and its online display advertising deal with Meta Platforms Inc. As part of its investigation, the CMA will consider whether an agreement between Google and Meta (previously Facebook) – which Google internally codenamed “Jedi Blue” – broke the law. This secret pact was the focus of an investigation in the United States looking into the claim that Google executives “induced” senior Facebook staff to agree to a plan to undermine competition in digital advertising.

Vestager has also proposed rules that could force Google and other US tech giants to change their core business models. The new European Digital Markets Act which aims to rein in Big Tech may enter into force by the end of the year after the EU institutions reached an agreement on Thursday on the final text of the bill. 

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