Italian watchdog investigates Google over alleged advertising industry abuse
ROME/MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s antitrust authority is investigating Alphabet’s Google for alleged abuse of its…
ROME/MILAN (Reuters) – Italy’s antitrust authority is investigating Alphabet’s Google
The investigation follows a criticism filed by Italian electronic promoting lobby group IAB final yr, and provides to regulatory scrutiny the Silicon Valley tech giant is experiencing throughout the world.
The watchdog stated it suspects Google of using tremendous amounts of data collected by means of its personal applications to stop rival operators from competing successfully. It claimed it carried out inspections of some Google workplaces on Tuesday.
A Google spokesman in Italy stated in an e-mailed assertion the company was functioning constructively with the Italian authorities.
He added that the Google policy alterations on which the watchdog was concentrating were partly aimed at squaring European Union privacy law with how its promotion applications function.
Angela Mills Wade, executive director of the European Publishers’ Council, welcomed the Italian investigation, which must be done by Nov. 2021
She mentioned the tech giant’s “unrivalled situation” hit “publishers and, ultimately, their audience as fewer advertising income leads to a lot less investment decision in journalism”.
The Italian on the internet promoting market place produced income of 3.3 billion euros ($3.9 billion) last calendar year, with show promotion, these kinds of as banner ads, accounting for almost 37%.
(Reporting by Elvira Pollina and Giulia Segreti Modifying by David Goodman and Jan Harvey)
