Google under probe from German antitrust regulator over data terms
Category: #tech  | By Mateen Dalal  | Date: 2021-05-26 |
  • shareshare_icon
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Google under probe from German antitrust regulator over data terms

American technology giant, Google LLC, is facing immense heat in Germany, as the country’s antitrust watchdog has launched a probe to determine whether the company is exploiting its market dominance with inappropriate methods of handling user data.

Germany’s Federal Cartel Office stated that two investigations have been started under antitrust measures, that allow it to scrutinize large digital companies that may hold significant control over several markets.

The authority will reportedly analyze Google’s data processing terms, as it believes that the Alphabet Inc. unit derives a ‘strategic advantage’ from the sheer volume of data it collects. Authorities have also questioned if users ‘have enough choice on how their data will be used by Google.’

Federal Cartel Office President, Andreas Mundt, was quoted saying that, with the large number of digital services offered by Google, such as YouTube, the Google search engine, Google Maps, and the Chrome browser, the company could be considered to have significant influence in the competitive landscape across markets.

He further added that Google’s leverage makes it quite difficult for other companies to compete in the market.

Notably, this is the largest investigation Google LLC has faced in the region, since the European Union penalized the company with USD 9 billion in fines, after a decade-long probe, cited knowledgeable sources.

President Mundt and others have criticized the EU for being negligent in checking Google’s business policies even after it was found to have held back smaller competitors from certain services.

For the record, Social media giants Facebook Inc. and Amazon.com Inc. are also facing intense scrutiny from German authorities over their activities in several digital sectors.

In the meantime, Google has also been given a deadline of 24 hours to delete prohibited content by Russia's communications watchdog Roskomnadzor, failing which it would fine the tech giant and could eventually decide to slow down the company’s traffic in the region.

Source Link –

https://www.livemint.com/companies/news/google-faces-sweeping-german-antitrust-probes-into-data-terms-11621938256742.html

  • shareshare_icon
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn


About Author

Mateen Dalal     twitter

Mateen Dalal

A qualified electronics and telecommunication engineer, Mateen Dalal embarked on his professional journey working as a quality and test engineer. Harnessing his passion for content creation however, Mateen pens down industry-rich articles for ReportsGO.com and a few o...

Read More..

More News By Mateen Dalal

ChatGPT’s creator OpenAI proposes regulation of AI by humans

ChatGPT’s creator OpenAI proposes regulation of AI by humans

By Mateen Dalal

OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has reportedly put forward a proposal for the establishment of an international organization to regulate artificial intelligence (AI). Led by CEO Sam Altman, the company believes that AI systems developed within the ne...

Medtronic pledges USD 350 Mn to expand R&D operations in India

Medtronic pledges USD 350 Mn to expand R&D operations in India

By Mateen Dalal

Medtronic, a leading healthcare technology company, has announced plans to expand its R&D center in Hyderabad, India, with a whopping investment of USD 350 million. The existing facility is already the largest center for the company outside the U...

DuPont to buy Spectrum Plastics, anticipates high ROIC by fifth year

DuPont to buy Spectrum Plastics, anticipates high ROIC by fifth year

By Mateen Dalal

American chemical company DuPont de Nemours Inc. reportedly signed a definitive agreement to buy out Spectrum Plastics Group from AEA Investors, a U.S. based private equity firm. The acquisition will reinforce DuPont’s position in booming non-c...