EU charges Google with abusing web-search dominance

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

On Wednesday, the European Union formally launched its biggest antitrust case since scrutinizing Microsoft a decade ago, filing charges against Google for allegedly using its overwhelming share of the web-search market to inappropriately steer users toward its other Google products. "If the investigation confirmed our concerns, Google would have to face the legal consequences and change the way it does business in Europe," explained Margrethe Vestager, the EU's competition commissioner.

Google could be on the hook for 6 billion euros ($6.4 billion) in fines — by far the largest EU antitrust penalty to date — if it doesn't refute the charges. Alternately, Google could reach a settlement with Vestager.

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Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.