Google under threat from EU Parliament as MEPs prepare non-binding resolution
The world's biggest search engine could soon find its European operations under threat from the EU parliament thanks to antitrust regulations.
A non-binding resolution is being assembled to break up Google's European operations, according to documents seen by Reuters. The measures are being prepared by EU politicians to counter the alleged power and dominance of Google in the search market.
Although Google is not specifically mentioned in the motion but since Google accounts for 90 per cent of the European market there is little doubt about who the measure is targeted at.
The Parliament's motion seen by Reuters "calls on the Commission to consider proposals with the aim of unbundling search engines from other commercial services as one potential long-term solution".
However, even if the proposal is passed it will be up to the Commission whether to take any action against Google. The tech giant has faced a wave of criticism over the "right to be forgotten" and a host of tax issues. The measures to tackle Google are being backed by rival firm Microsoft.
European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said she would take on board the views of all the parties involved including the industry itself.
Google will be hoping to protect its European business from a potential break up and replicate its victory last year in the US, where regulators were convinced that the search engine had not been manipulating search results which would've hit the companies competitors.