EU antitrust regulators handed down a 1.49 billion euro ($1.69 billion) fine to Alphabet unit Google on Wednesday for blocking rival online search advertisers, marking the company's third penalty in two years.
Last year, the EU competition enforcer imposed a record 4.34 billion euro fine on Google for using its popular Android mobile operating system to block rivals. This followed a 2.42 billion euro fine in 2017 for hindering rivals of shopping comparison websites. ($1 = 0.8811 euros)
Google has made and will make a number of changes to address EU antitrust regulators' concerns that it unfairly promoted its shopping service and hindered rivals of its Android smartphone operating system, a senior executive said on Wednesday.
"We've always agreed that healthy, thriving markets are in everyone's interest. We've already made a wide range of changes to our products to address the Commission's concerns," Kent Walker, senior vice-president of global affairs, said in a statement.
"Over the next few months, we'll be making further updates to give more visibility to rivals in Europe," he continued.
He did not comment specifically on the European Commission's 1.49-billion-euro ($1.7 billion) fine handed down earlier on Wednesday for blocking rival online advertisers.
