Google在欧洲遭遇惊天大罚款,一脸懵圈
Google will be hit with a record fine for abusing its monopoly over internet search on Tuesday, seven years after the EU began investigating the technology giant. The European Commission plans to announce its decision into the long-running case on Tuesday morning. The commission will impose the record fine for breaking EU competition law, saying Google used its dominant search engine to unfairly promote the Google Shopping service at the expense of smaller price-comparison websites. The penalty will eclipse the previous €1.1bn (£1bn) record fine Intel was forced to pay in 2009 and the EU may also demand that Google make changes to its search results so that it is not seen to favour its own service. The decision will be a milestone moment in Google’s lengthy battle with the EU, as well as a critical point in relations between the US and Brussels, with European regulators becoming increasingly concerned about the power of Silicon Valley’s internet companies. Google argues that its entry into online shopping services has been good for consumers and retailers, and says it is not a monopoly player in online shopping. It points to giants such as Amazon and eBay as alternative choices that have made internet shopping more competitive. However, the commission has the power to fine Google up to 10pc of its annual revenues, or $9bn (£7bn). It has already argued that the company is stunting competition by favouring its own shopping service, saying it has a “duty to act” to protect consumers. The investigation dates back to 2010, and was triggered by complaints from other price-comparison websites that Google had relegated their services in its search results. The EU has also pursued Apple, Facebook and Amazon in various competition cases in recent years, occasionally provoking Washington into accusing Brussels of protectionism. A fine could lead to a string of claims against Google from price-comparison shopping websites seeking damages. |