The EU competition authorities and Google - a chronicle
EU competition regulators have been keeping an eye on Google for years—but now the company has been hit with its first fine in the billions.
The EU competition authorities have been investigating Google's business for years. They first accused Google of unfair competition in shopping searches, then added abuse of its market position in the Android mobile system and in the advertising business to the accusations. The cases have dragged on for years - but now the first billion-euro fine has been imposed.
February 2010: EU Competition Commissioner Joaquín Almunia launches a competition investigation following Microsoft's complaint about discrimination in Internet search.
November 2010: The Commission is opening formal proceedings on suspicion of abuse of a dominant market position in online search. Among other things, it is alleged that competitors such as price search engines have been disadvantaged in favor of Google's own services.
July 2012: Google is proposing initial concessions to settle the proceedings. At the same time, the company always emphasizes that it provides services for users for whom it wants to display the best results - and not for other search engines.
February 2013: Google submits a detailed proposal to settle the investigation, Almunia holds out the prospect of an agreement. However, several complainants, including German publishers, are calling for tougher action from the EU Commission.
April 2013: Microsoft, Nokia and several other competitors are filing a complaint against Google's business policy for the Android mobile system. The Internet company is hindering competition, they say.
February 2014: Google extends its concessions on web search after Almunia's previous proposals were rejected. The Commissioner is seeking a settlement of the proceedings on the new basis.
June 2014: Independent music companies are filing a complaint against Google's video platform YouTube. They accuse the service of putting pressure on rights negotiations. November 2014: Danish politician Margrethe Vestager takes over from Almunia in the new Commission.
April 2015: The Commission formally accuses Google of infringing competition law in the area of shopping searches - the company's own offers are being favored to the detriment of competitors and consumers. At the same time, Vestager is initiating proceedings on Android.
April 2016: After a year of investigation, the Commission also accuses Google of abusing its dominant market position with Android.
July 2016: The Commission accuses Google of placing obstacles in the way of other search engines on websites on which the Group's search mask is integrated. The accusations regarding shopping search are confirmed.
June 2017: Vestager imposes a record fine of 2.42 billion euros on Google for the Shopping search and confirms the accusations in the two other proceedings. In future, the Commission will generally assume that Google dominates the European search engine market, which is a "precedent", she says. (SDA)
