- Title: GOOGLE-EU/VOTE EU lawmakers urge regulators to get tough on Google
- Date: 27th November 2014
- Summary: DUBLIN, IRELAND (FILE) (REUTERS) VARIOUS EXTERIORS OF GOOGLE OFFICES
- Embargoed: 12th December 2014 12:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Ireland
- Country: Ireland
- Topics: General
- Reuters ID: LVACQT0PL9R8R5L4DAIRJUU6EDNS
- Story Text: European Union lawmakers overwhelmingly backed a motion on Thursday (November 27) urging antitrust regulators to get tough on Google and other Internet search engines and consider breaking them up.
The resolution in the European Parliament (EP), the strongest public signal of Europe's concern with the growing power of U.S. tech giants, was passed with 384 votes for versus 174 against.
The resolution was drafted by Spanish liberal lawmaker Ramon Tremosa and German Conservative Andrea Schwab.
The resolution did not mention Google or any specific search engine, though Google is by far the dominant provider of such services in Europe with an estimated 90 percent market share.
The lawmakers called on the Commission, in charge of enforcing fair competition in the European Union, to consider proposals with the aim of unbundling search engines from other commercial services.
While the legislature has no power in the matter, the call to the Commission is intended to increase pressure on new antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager to act quickly.
Google is the target of a four-year investigation by the Commission, triggered by complaints from Microsoft, Expedia, European publishers and others that it promotes its services at their expense. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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