Bloomberg: Google Rolls Out Shopping Tweaks in Bid to Dodge EU Fines. “Google is rolling out changes to how it shows shopping search results across Europe in a bid to avoid further fines from a seven-year antitrust probe. Slapped with a record-breaking 2.4 billion-euro ($2.8 billion) penalty in June, Google was also ordered by the European Commission to stop its illegal conduct and offer equal treatment to rival price-comparison sites by a Sept. 28 deadline. It risks daily fines of up to 5 percent of its global daily revenue if it fails to comply.”
Europe
Christian Science Monitor: European leaders ask social media companies to censor extremist speech
Christian Science Monitor: European leaders ask social media companies to censor extremist speech. “The leaders of Britain, France, and Italy will push social media companies on Wednesday to remove ‘terrorist content’ from the internet within one to two hours of it appearing because they say that is the period when most material is spread. British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni will raise the issue at an event on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the United Nations.”
Exclusive: Google offers to treat rivals equally via auction – sources (Reuters)
Reuters: Exclusive: Google offers to treat rivals equally via auction – sources. “Google has already been fined a record 2.4 billion euros ($2.9 bln) by the European Commission for favoring its own service, and could face millions of euros in fresh fines if it fails to treat rivals and its own service equally. In its proposal submitted to the European Commission on Aug. 29, the company said it would allow competitors to bid for any spot in its shopping section known as Product Listing Ads, the sources said.” I was so taken aback at this proposed “solution” that I started wondering if Google was trying to troll the entire EU.
The Guardian: US retaliation feared as Brussels prepares to close Google’s tax loopholes
The Guardian: US retaliation feared as Brussels prepares to close Google’s tax loopholes. “EU leaders have agreed to make ‘swift’ progress on raising the tax bills for digital giants such as Google and Facebook, despite warnings from smaller states that unilateral action could drive business away from Europe.”
The Telegraph: Google launches fightback against record £2.2bn Brussels fine
The Telegraph: Google launches fightback against record £2.2bn Brussels fine. “Google will launch a fightback against Brussels this week when the company lodges an appeal against its record monopoly abuse fine. The internet giant is expected to file the response to the European Commission’s €2.4bn (£2.2bn) penalty on Monday, the deadline for submitting an appeal.”
CNBC: Google still a ‘wonderful’ company, says EU’s top antitrust enforcer after $2.7 billion fine
CNBC: Google still a ‘wonderful’ company, says EU’s top antitrust enforcer after $2.7 billion fine . “Google is still very much a force for good and has many positive attributes, according to the EU’s competition commissioner who slapped the tech giant with a $2.7 billion fine earlier this year.”
The Sunday Times: Google accused of rigging flight results
The Sunday Times: Google accused of rigging flight results. “Google could face more multibillion-euro fines as the European Commission turns its sights on the company’s flights and hotel services.” You’ll need to register to see the whole article.
