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Germany: Top official wants Google breakup

By  |  May 18, 2014

A top Germany official is urging consideration of a forced breakup of Google because its market dominance is so strong, according to reports.

Germany economy minister and vice chancellor Sigmar Gabriel says a breakup “must be seriously considered,” though reports note that his remarks are unlikely to lead to action because Google is based in the US.

But Gabriel said he would like to see a breakup of the company similar to those seen with utilities.

His remarks, made in an op-ed published in daily newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitun, follow various media companies from around the EU filing a complaint with the European Commission over Google. The companies, along with Google rivals, consumer advocates and even some EU Commissioners, have all criticized Commissioner Almunia’s decision to settle with Google after years of investigating complaints that the company abused its market power.

Full content: Albuquerque Journal

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