The European Union's competition watchdog will investigate whether Internet giant Google has abused its dominant position in the online-search market.
The formal investigation announced on November 30 follows complaints from rival search engines that Google put them at a disadvantage in both its regular and sponsored search results, by listing links to their sites below references to its own services in an attempt to shut them out of the market.
The commission will also probe whether Google prevented advertising partners from placing ads from competitors on their sites.
Google has maintained that it hasn't done anything wrong and said it would cooperate with the investigation.
compiled from agency reports
The formal investigation announced on November 30 follows complaints from rival search engines that Google put them at a disadvantage in both its regular and sponsored search results, by listing links to their sites below references to its own services in an attempt to shut them out of the market.
The commission will also probe whether Google prevented advertising partners from placing ads from competitors on their sites.
Google has maintained that it hasn't done anything wrong and said it would cooperate with the investigation.
compiled from agency reports