The European Commission has launched an investigation into the world’s most popular search engine, Google, following complaints from rival services. The complaints revolve around suspicions of “unfavourable treatment of competitor services in Google’s unpaid sponsored search results coupled with an alleged preferential placement of Google’s own services”. According to the EC, the probe does not imply any wrongdoing by Google, however, it will check whether the organisation has abused its dominant position by penalising competitors such as ejustice.fr and Foundem, in its search results.
According to Foundem, “Google is exploiting its dominance of search in ways that stifle innovation, suppress competition, and erode consumer choice.” The investigation will therefore try to find out whether Google’s search result algorithms negatively affect the ranking of vertical search service providers such as price comparison sites irrespective of relevance. Furthermore, the EC will investigate “suspected restrictions on the portability of online advertising campaign data to competing online advertising platforms”.
Google has so far denied all allegations that suggest that it manipulates its search results and stated that it would corporate with the EC in order to address any concerns. However, the news of the investigation has been welcomed by advertising agencies such as, WPP – the world’s largest communications services groups.
Talking Point
What is your opinion on Google’s dominance of the search engine market? Would you like to see other online advertising companies play a more active role?
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Computers Smart Phones Technology
December 3, 2010 at 10:05 am
Yes, I will like to see other online advertising companies play a more active role in online marketing and search. Google continue to dominance the search engine market is not good for the market.
jo lifco
December 3, 2010 at 10:17 am
I saw this on the news the other day about google dint catch it all so reading this is a heads up, i always thought that google etc gave higher rankings to there own sites not fair really, like to see how this turns out for them
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December 7, 2010 at 2:34 am
wow I cant believ this, I could easily see this happening its a dog eat dog world out there, and google just so happens to be the 300 lb english mastif.
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December 10, 2010 at 11:27 am
I heard about such news before many people drag a lot of stuff about the dominance of Google but still Google is holding the top that means they are maintaining and up grading every single service they provide.
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December 10, 2010 at 6:07 pm
I think it a PR move. It is clear that if a company is as big as Google is it wont look back to small competitors (if I can call them so). I personally have never heard about mentioned search engines. And I’ve never in my life heard a more vague accusation.
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December 30, 2010 at 10:49 am
as every one know that google is a big company, and one can ever reach it,, than why they need this all? i dont believe this..