Google fined 2.95bn by EU for abusing advertising dominance

"Google has been fined 2.95bn (2.5bn) by the EU for allegedly abusing its power in the ad tech sector - the technology which determines which adverts should be placed online and where. The European Commission said on Friday the tech giant had breached competition laws by favouring its own products for displaying online ads, to the detriment of rivals. It comes amid increased scrutiny by regulators worldwide over the tech giant's empire in online search and advertising."

"Google told the BBC the Commission's decision was "wrong" and it would appeal. "It imposes an unjustified fine and requires changes that will hurt thousands of European businesses by making it harder for them to make money," said Lee-Anne Mulholland, global head of regulatory affairs at Google. "There's nothing anti-competitive in providing services for ad buyers and sellers, and there are more alternatives to our services than ever before.""

"In its decision on Friday, the Commission accused Google of "self-preferencing" its own technology above others. As part of its findings, it said Google had intentionally boosted its own advertising exchange, AdX, over competing exchanges where ads are bought and sold in real-time. Competitors and publishers faced higher costs and reduced revenues as a result, it said, claiming these may have been passed to consumers in the form of more expensive services."

Google was fined 2.95bn by the EU for allegedly abusing power in the ad tech sector by favouring its own products for displaying online ads, harming rivals. The Commission found Google intentionally boosted its advertising exchange, AdX, over competing exchanges where ads are bought and sold in real-time. The regulator said competitors and publishers faced higher costs and reduced revenues that may have been passed to consumers. The Commission ordered Google to end the practices and pay the penalty. Google said the decision was wrong, will appeal, and denied anti-competitive behaviour, saying alternatives exist. The fine follows a larger 2018 Android penalty.

Read at www.bbc.com