Google under investigation for preferential search result practices

The EU has re-launched an investigation into Google's search result practices after anti-trust regulators allege that they have been showing preference to its own websites over others.

Bidness ETC says the commission is looking at formal complaints, and aims to reach a decision by September. The commission's spokesman said all replies from formal complainants have not been received as yet. The EU commission expects to receive all replies by August. Only then will all arguments be thoroughly analyzed, which will determine the commission's course of action.



Some concerns stem in part from a broader distrust against U.S. technology companies following last year's revelations that the U.S. National Security Agency had spied on European citizens, according to the Wall Street Journal article.

"The NSA scandal is a factor," said one antitrust lawyer involved in the Google case. "U.S. companies are innocent but they have somehow become the poster children for this."

A spokesman for Google referred to previous comments that the company has made "significant changes to address the Commission's concerns, greatly increasing the visibility of rival services and addressing other specific issues."