Google Outlines Proposals To EU To End Antitrust Probe

Google outlined proposals to European Union regulators in an effort to end an antitrust investigation into allegations that the operator of the world’s largest search engine discriminates against rivals.

Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt sent EU antitrust chief Joaquin Almunia a letter responding to the probe. The settlement offer addresses the “four areas the European Commission described” as potential concerns, Google spokesman Al Verney said. Almunia in May asked Google to make an offer to settle concerns it promotes its own specialist search services, copies rivals’ travel and restaurant reviews, and that agreements with websites and software developers stifle competition in the advertising industry. He said last month he would send Google an antitrust complaint, that could lead to a fine or limits on conduct, if the proposal was unsatisfactory. “Three of the four areas are relatively easy to address,” said Greg Sterling, a senior analyst at Opus Research. “The ‘concern’ about placement of ‘Google content’ in search results is more problematic given that it goes to the heart of Google’s ability to control its search experience and algorithm.”