The European Commission has today announced the opening of an investigation into Google’s conduct in the online advertising technology sector.The Commission has indicated that it is concerned Google may be violating EU competition rules by favouring its own online display advertising technology services.
The investigation will, in particular, examine whether Google is distorting competition by restricting access by third parties to user data for advertising purposes on websites and apps, while reserving such data for its own use. The investigation will include Google’s announced plans in its ‘Privacy Sandbox’, which is already the target of a UK CMA investigation in which Preiskel & Co’s Competition and Antitrust team represent Marketers for an Open Web.
The Commission’s press release can be found here.
Please contact Tim Cowen with questions.