Google has just been hit with a $1.7 billion fine by the European Union
It’s being punished over restrictive contracts forced on customers using its AdSense business.
Specifically: Google is accused of abusing its dominant position by forcing customers to advertise solely through AdSense, the product that places relevant ads on websites. This “denied other companies the possibility to compete on the merits and to innovate,” EU antitrust commissioner Margrethe Vestager (pictured) said in a press conference. This misconduct went on for over a decade, she added.
Third time unlucky: This is Google’s third big fine from the EU, following a record $5 billion fine last year for abusing its market dominance in mobile, and $2.7 billion in 2017 for manipulating shopping search results. These are both being appealed. The fine for AdSense malpractices was smaller because Google worked with the EU to changes its policies after the investigation was launched in 2016.
Sign up here to our daily newsletter The Download to get your dose of the latest must-read news from the world of emerging tech.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch
Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.