Google Under Fire from European Union

The internet company stands to lose nearly $6 billion in fines.

In Europe, Google is about to fist fight over the way they display their search results. The European Union claims that the company does not display search results correctly: instead of putting the most relevant information at the top of the page, Google puts the companies that pay them more. If the EU wins the case, Google will have to pay up to $6 billion dollars in fines, which is about what the company makes in a quarter.

According to CNN Money, the problem goes further than just search results in a different order: “For example, people searching for “running watch” will see photos, prices, ratings and links to five watches from companies that paid Google to advertise on the site. They won’t see Amazon or other rivals’ results listed first, and they’re not necessarily seeing the best or most relevant products at the top of the results.”

While the EU has always been tough on US tech companies and their best practices, this investigation has been particularly thorough. The search has lasted through two leaders and the last five years. The EU has also punished Microsoft, fining them €1.6 billion and forcing them to give internet users options other than Internet Explorer. 

The Union also has the right to request that any inappropriate links or results be removed. 

Google’s response has been to fight, and they think they have a way around it: the EU assumes that everyone’s first search is Google: “While Google /4/be the most used search engine, people can now find and access information in numerous different ways — and allegations of harm, for consumers and competitors, have proved to be wide of the mark,” said Amit Singhal, Google’s search chief, in a blog post.

Google has ten weeks to respond, or the case will go to court.