France’s competition authority accuses Google of having abused its dominant position in the ad server market. That’s why the company has to pay now.
The French competition authority has fined Google 220 million euros for preferring its own services in online advertising. Google did not deny the allegations, the fine had now been ordered as part of a settlement, the authority announced in Paris on Monday.
Google offered appropriate changes. “We will test these changes in the coming months and develop them further before we roll them out on a broader basis, in some cases worldwide,” said Google.
Authority accuses Google of abuse of market position
The competition authority accuses the US Company of having abused its dominant position in the ad server market. “The Authority has found that Google has given preferential treatment to its own technologies, which are marketed under the Google Ad Manager brand (…),” it said.
These practices are “particularly serious” because the disadvantaged also include press associations whose economic model has been seriously weakened anyway by the decline in newspaper subscriptions.
Authority: Google’s practices “disadvantage competition”
These have been disadvantaged in the market for so-called supply-side platforms (SSPs), for example. It is an interface between website providers and advertisers. The French competition authority reminded that companies with a position like Google have a special responsibility.
“These very serious practices put competition at a disadvantage in the emerging online advertising market and enabled Google not only to maintain its dominant position, but to expand it,” said Isabelle de Silva, chairman of the French competition authority, according to the announcement.
Google wants to work with authorities
“We are of the opinion that we offer valuable services and are in competition. Nevertheless, we strive to work proactively with the regulatory authorities to make improvements to our products,” said the US Company. They have worked with the French authority for the past two years and now want to improve access to data or increase the flexibility of Google Ad Manager.
