Brussels accuses Google of abuse of dominant position in the … – Les Echos

The European Commission also opened an investigation on Android, the operating system for mobile phones from Google.

After 4 years of proceedings, the offensive is finally launched. The European Commission has accused Google search engine of abuse of dominant position on Wednesday for promoting “ always its own price comparison in its results pages .” “ I fear that the company has an unfair advantage its own price comparison service, in violation of EU rules on restrictive agreements and abuse of dominant position ‘, has said EU Commissioner in charge of the case, Margrete Vestager.

The European Commission has also announced the opening of an antitrust investigation of Android, the operating system for mobile terminals American group. “ smartphones, tablets and other similar devices playing an increasingly important in the daily lives of many people and I want to ensure that the markets in this sector can prosper without anti-competitive constraints any company or , “said Margrete Vestager

Fine of $ 6 billion

Regarding the results of search engine, the Commissioner sent a statement of objections to Google, which opens a procedure that can result either by mutual agreement or by a fine in excess of $ 6 billion, or 10% of global turnover Google has reached $ 66 billion in 2014. “ If the investigation was to confirm our fears, Google should bear the legal consequences and change the way it does business in Europe ,” said said Margrete Vestager

The European competition watchdog mainly criticizes the US internet giant, which holds 90% market share in Europe to put forward its own pages specialized services to the detriment of competing search engines like Bing (Microsoft), or of price comparison sites specializing in trips like Expedia.

The proposed Google retoquées

The European Commission has opened an investigation late 2010. For years, under the leadership of former Commissioner for Competition Joaquin Almunia, she sought the ways of reconciliation by asking Google to offer “cures”. But the proposals advanced by Google solutions have already been retoquées by the Commission three times.

The plaintiffs, which include notably Microsoft, have called on the Commission several times to address a statement of objections to Google, saying the case had dragged on too. In late November, the European Parliament adopted by a large majority a resolution calling for the dismantling of Google, a symbolic text, but which put additional pressure on the group. The resolution called on the Commission “ to consider proposals to separate the search engines of other commercial services .”

More information to come.