European Union: Announced investigation into Google for alleged anti-competitive unilateral conduct in the online advertising technology market

On June 22, 2021, the European Commission (EC) opened up an investigation into Google's potentially anti-competitive behaviour in the advertising technology ("ad tech") services sector. Google is alleged to have been abusing its dominant position by rendering third-party access to user data impossible and keeping the data for itself. In question are possible violations of Articles 101 & 102 of the TFEU and the GDPR in general. The investigation will also ensure that Google's user tracking policies, as well as the obligations to use Google Services to purchase and maintain ads on YouTube, are in accordance with competition law. Specifically, Google is alleged to self-preference its services by exclusively using data that is not public and generated within its ecosystem. An in-depth investigation has been commenced.