Canada: Closed investigation into Google for alleged anti-competitive conduct related to online search

On 19 April 2016, Canada's Competition Bureau closed its investigations against Google for alleged anti-competitive conduct in the online search market. The Competition Bureau opened the investigation in 2023. Google was alleged to have self-preferenced its own services, restricted the use of data it collects by third parties, as well as manipulating search results, among other allegations. The Competition Bureau did not find sufficient evidence for the alleged anti-competitive behaviours bar one. Google used anti-competitive clauses in the terms and conditions of its AdWords application but offered commitments to not reintroduce them for 5 years. The Canadian Competition Bureau accepted these commitments.