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

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…

Scope

Policy Area

Competition

Policy Instrument

Unilateral conduct regulation

Regulated Economic Activity

online advertising provider

Implementation Level

supranational

Government Branch

executive

Government Body

competition authority

Complete timeline of this policy change

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2021-06-22

under deliberation

On June 22, 2021, the European Commission (EC) opened up an investigation into Google's potentially…

2022-07-27

under deliberation

On 27 July 2022, the European Commission (EC) took over the administrative offence proceedings of t…

2023-06-14

under investigation

On 14 June 2023, the European Commission announced that it had sent a statement of objections to Go…

2025-09-05

in force

On 5 September 2025, the European Commission fined Google EUR 2.95 billion for abusing its dominant…

Key regulatory dimensions

Regulated subjects

The businesses, government agencies or individuals affected by this policy or regulatory change.

defendant

Type Private organisation

Economic activity online advertising provider

Category Firm-specific