$2.7 Billion EU Fine for Google

THE EU’S PROBE OF GOOGLE

• November 2009: Foundem, a U.K. price-comparison website, files a complaint in Brussels over Google’s search practices.
• November 2010: EU regulators begin a formal investigation into Google’s search practices.
• January 2013: Google submits proposals to address concerns it favored its own search services, struck restrictive deals with advertisers, and copied content from rival websites without permission.
• February 2014: After further concessions by Google, Brussels announces a settlement.
• September 2014: In an about-face, EU seeks fresh concessions.
• November 2014: Margrethe Vestager takes over as EU antitrust chief.
• April 2015: EU announces formal charges against Google for the first time, accusing the search giant of skewing results to favor its shopping service. Google contests the charges a few months later.
• June 2017: EU fines Google $2.7 billion in comparison shopping case.