Turkiye: Competition Authority announced investigation into Google over alleged discriminatory billing practices in online advertising (No. 26-08/233-M)

On 3 April 2026, the Competition Authority opened an investigation into Google under Law No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition. The investigation examines Google's billing practices within its online advertising services. It focuses on whether the allocation of certain advertiser and advertising agency clients to billing through Google Ireland, rather than a Turkish entity, creates discriminatory cost differentials, given that the former arrangement attracts withholding tax under Turkish tax legislation, whilst the latter does not. The Authority will examine the criteria underpinning Google's client classification, whether that classification is objective, and whether the resulting billing structure constitutes an abuse of dominant position under Article 6 of Law No. 4054. The investigation follows a preliminary inquiry launched in January 2026.