Google’s Ads Practices Targeted By EU Antitrust Probe

EU antitrust regulators have sought information from advertisers regarding Google’s advertising technology practices, a European Commission document seen by Reuters showed.

Alphabet-owned Google, the world’s largest online search engine, has been hit with fines totalling €8.25 billion (US$10 billion) in the last three years for blocking rivals in online shopping, Android smartphones, and online advertising.

It now faces two European Union investigations into its advertising practices, focused on technology and data.

Google and Facebook together capture over half of the internet ad sales market globally. Both companies are currently the target of a US lawsuit over their 2018 deal which gives Facebook’s advertiser clients the option to place ads within Google’s network of publishing partners

Google stated it was cooperating with the Commission, whose 13-page questionnaire sent to advertisers this month asked about the impact of using the default setting “Include Google Display Network”introduced in 2018 for search campaigns on Google Ads.

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.