In an announcement, Google stated which search engines are going to appear on its default search provider screen for Android users in the EU. First reported Thursday by the Verge, Bing will appear as an option in the UK only, and DuckDuckGo and Info.com will appear with Google in all 31 EU territories. The Android search choice screen is …

DuckDuckGo, Info.com Crowd Out Bing In Google’s Android Search Options Read More »

According to the Wall Street Journal, France’s antitrust regulator has imposed a 150 million euro fine ($166.2 million) for arbitrarily suspending ads. Google says that the ads in question where “deceptive.” The French antitrust authority, who is claiming “the power of life or death” over companies, has characterized the suspensions as “brutal and unjustified” and “random …

La mort d’ads: French Regulator Fines Google $166 Million For ‘Brutal’ Ad Suspensions Read More »

It isn’t surprising that Google is facing even more antitrust scrutiny in Europe, this time on two different fronts. According to Reuters =, Google is confronting an examination of its “collection and use of data.” Rivals of Google have formally complained to the European Commission that Google’s business practices, in regards to Google’s shopping comparison …

More EU Antitrust Heat For Google (And Facebook) Over Data Collection Read More »

At a conference yesterday, Margrethe Vestager, the European chief, said that Google’s efforts to drive more traffic to European comparison shopping rivals have basically failed. This is the opposite of what she said back in 2017 with her previous, qualified support for the changes Google made in response to a European Commission finding that the company …

European Antitrust Chief Says Google’s Auction-Based Shopping Remedy Not Working Read More »

There is a bill being making its rounds in the Senate that, if passed, would require large internet companies to disclose that their results are using “opaque algorithms” and offer consumers the option to see search or content that are non-personalized. This was reported by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) and is called “The Filter …

Senate Bill Seeks To Compel Tech Giants To Offer ‘Unfiltered’ Versions Of Their Content Read More »

Ecosia, the Berlin-based search engine, says that it won’t participate in Google’s “search-choice” auction for Android devices in 2020 in Europe. With this coming to light, will others follow? Earlier in August, Google announced that it will introduce a new “choice screen” in Europe for Android users in 2020. The screen will be displayed when setting …

Ecosia Says It Will Boycott ‘Search Choice’ Auction On Android In Europe Read More »

Due to an antitrust decision last year in Europe, Google had been ordered to stop compelling phone makers to pre-install Google apps to gain access to Google Play. The decision came with a €4.3 billion (roughly $5 billion) fine, which Google is appealing. Even though the company is appealing the decision, Google is still complying …

Google To Offer Browser, Search-App Choices In Android Europe Set-Up Flow Read More »

Google is now facing their third significant antitrust fine in the EU.  This fine is penalizing Google for 1.49 billion euros ($1.69 billion) for “abusive practices in online advertising” involving publisher contracts surrounding AdSense for search. The fine “takes account of the duration and gravity of the infringement. . . . [and] has been calculated on the …

Google Fined Another $1.7 Billion By EU For ‘Abusive’ AdSense Publisher Contracts Read More »

In June, 2017 the European Commission (EC) fined Google roughly $2.7 billion for alleged abuse of market position in vertical (shopping) search.  After the decision was made, which Google is in the process of appealing, Google number of changes was implemented to provide “equal treatment” for rival Comparison Shopping Engines (CSEs) in Europe. About a month ago, Margreth Vestager, the …

Google’s EU Shopping Comparison Rivals Say Their Situation Is Getting Worse Read More »

It has been estimated that about one-third of US news sites block EU users since they have’t complied with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).  Because of this, this has become an issue for Google search users in Europe. If a user in the EU clicks on a search result listing that is blocking EU users, they’ll get …

Google Looking For Ways To Handle Sites Blocking Searchers Over GDPR Read More »