New Delhi: European publishers, technology firms and startup groups have called on EU antitrust regulators to conclude a nearly two-year investigation into Google and impose penalties over alleged preferential treatment of its own services in online search, according to Reuters.
In a joint letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, competition chief Teresa Ribera and tech policy head Henna Virkkunen, the groups urged authorities to complete the probe as early as next week.
Signatories included the European Publishers Council, whose members include Axel Springer, News Corp and Condé Nast, along with the European Magazine Media Association, European Tech Alliance and EU Travel Tech, among others.
The push reflects ongoing tensions within the European Union over how to regulate large technology companies, with recurring disagreements between Brussels and Washington on measures affecting US-based firms across search, social media and artificial intelligence.
The investigation into Alphabet was opened by the European Commission on March 25, 2024 under the Digital Markets Act. Regulators had indicated that cases under the framework would typically be concluded within 12 months, and formal charges were issued last year.
In their letter, the groups warned that delays could undermine regulatory credibility and reduce the effectiveness of the Digital Markets Act. They said prolonged timelines were affecting the financial position of European companies, limiting their ability to invest and grow, with some facing significant financial strain.
The European Commission confirmed it had received the letter and said the investigation would be concluded as quickly as possible, noting the complexity of the case.
Google has denied allegations that it favours its own services in search results.
The company said it had already introduced changes in response to regulatory concerns, although it maintained that these adjustments had negatively affected the user experience in Europe. It added that it wanted the matter resolved so it could focus on product development.
As per the news reports, however, rival companies and industry groups have argued that the changes implemented so far are insufficient. Additional signatories, including the Initiative for Neutral Search, Innovative Europe Foundation and the German Startup Association, have called for a formal finding of non-compliance against Alphabet. They also urged regulators to issue a cease-and-desist order and impose a fine to deter future violations.
