EU: EC publishes the official Google Search Shopping decision

On Monday, December 18, the European Commission released a 215-page document laying out details of its seven-year investigation into Google and their decision regarding the internet shopping case. In the document the EU explained “the need to ensure that the fine has a sufficiently deterrent effect not only on Google and Alphabet but also on undertakings of a similar size and with similar resources,” The “particularly large” revenue of Google’s parent, Alphabet Inc., also determined the size of the fine.

The penalty, levied in June, was more than double an earlier 1 billion-euro fine on Intel and came with a threat of more daily fines for Google if it didn’t comply with an order to offer equal treatment to rival shopping-comparison services. Big numbers for big technology names have been a theme for EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager, who ordered Apple Inc to pay back some 13 billion euros in taxes last year.

Read the Full Discussion Here: Europa

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