Google defends face charges from the European Commission – Le Figaro

The American search engine is the subject of a Brussels investigated for abuse of dominant position.

Google repeat: it acts solely in the interest of its users. The search engine has responded to the European Commission, accused of anticompetitive practices. In April, the company had received a statement of objections, an official document signifying the end of a five-year investigation. Google had the choice to negotiate an agreement or defend themselves against these charges, if it felt false. He chose the second option. “We took seriously the concerns raised by the European Commission in its statement of objections according to which our innovations would undermine competition,” said Kent Walker, vice president and general counsel of Google. “The response that we are submitting today demonstrates why we believe that these allegations are incorrect and why we believe that Google offers more choice to European consumers and business opportunities for companies of all sizes.”

Since 2010, the European Commission survey on the techniques used by Google to hinder supposedly its competition. According to its critics, the US group is abusing its position in the search ultradominante (over 90% of the sector in Europe). He is accused of promoting its own products and websites over those of its competitors, which can not therefore take advantage of his immense influence. In the Commission’s firing line: Google Shopping, the price comparison service Google, systematically favored in the search results than its competitors.

Google, he denies wanting to harm its competitors. “We relied on the analysis of traffic to refute the claims that our online advertising and our vertical search results would hurt competition by depriving price comparison sites to reach consumers,” says Kent Walker. “Online commerce services have benefited from a significant increase in traffic returned by Google.” The search engine also recalls having launched a new advertising format designed to showcase the other sites. However, this system has already been criticized by its competitors, because it works with a bidding system, thus enriching a little Google. “Our search engine is designed to provide the most relevant results and ads for each query,” replies the latter.

The European Commission will have to decide whether to accept Google’s response, which may have be supported through a hearing. If she decides to punish the company, the search engine is liable to a fine of up to 10% of its current revenues, or about 6 billion euros. Google provides to be “impatient” to be able to explain to the Commission.