European Union moving toward new charges against Google

European officials are moving closer to potentially hitting Google with yet another set of antitrust charges, this time over its advertising business, apparently. Other companies which had complained about Google to regulators have been asked to remove confidential sections from their submitted materials. Such requests are usually a first step to allowing regulators to share the evidence brought against Google with the company. Similar requests to remove confidential information were made prior to preliminary allegations coming down in previous cases. There is no guarantee though that charges will ultimately materialize.

The case concerns the contract that Google signs with people who want to use its advertising tools. Ads still generate the majority of its revenue for Google, now a subsidiary of holding company Alphabet. Critics claim Google has unfairly targeted competing advertising services and search tools. If European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager decides to file a formal statement of charges against Google, it will be the third case the company currently faces in Europe.