Google Hit With $1.7B Fine by EU for Blocking Ad Rivals

OUCH

Jamie Ross

Reporter

Published Mar. 20, 2019 7:50AM ET

Reuters / Dado Ruvic

Google has been hit with a massive $1.7 billion fine by the EU for blocking rival online search advertisers. The BBC reports the case accused the tech giant of abusing its dominance by restricting third-party rivals from displaying search ads. “Google has cemented its dominance in online search adverts and shielded itself from competitive pressure by imposing anti-competitive contractual restrictions on third-party websites... This is illegal under EU antitrust rules,” said European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager. This is the third EU fine for Google in two years—it was hit with a record $5 billion penalty last year for abusing its market dominance in mobile, and $2.7 billion the year before for manipulating shopping search results. Google is still appealing both cases.

Read it at BBC News

Trump Pastor Ignores City Orders to Headline Vegas Rally

Events in the city are capped at 50, but hundreds packed a hotel lobby despite warnings.

GA Students Suspended for Posting Photos of Packed Reopening

“This is not ok. Not to mention the 10% mask rate,” one 15-year-old student wrote.

You’d Never Guess I Was Wearing These PJs During a Zoom Call

Brooklinen’s Henleys are the comfiest thing I own. And they don’t look half bad, either.

U.S. Adds 1.8 Million Jobs, Still Down 12 Million From March

The American economy has only recovered about 42 percent of the 22 million jobs it lost.

Facebook Finally Gets Rid of One of Its Biggest QAnon Groups

The group, called Official Q/Qanon, had nearly 200,000 members when it disappeared.

This Is the Bug Spray That Saved My Summer

This bug spray is DEET-free, is the perfect size, and most importantly, actually works.

Angry Canadians Are Hunting Down Illegal U.S. Visitors: NYT

One Alaskan visitor was reported to be a “challenging fellow” who thought “this whole pandemic was a farce.”

Calif. Officials Admit: ‘No Idea’ if COVID Numbers Are Right

The state’s electronic system for tallying cases, ironically called CalREDIE, isn’t working, as death toll tops 10,000.

Eurovision Tells U.S. to Brace for ‘American Song Contest’

It will see U.S. state representatives sing their hearts out to claim the not-yet-prestigious trophy.

Biden Apologizes for Saying Black Community Isn’t Diverse

“In no way did I mean to suggest the African American community is a monolith,” he said.

This Sprinkler Will Transform Your Backyard Into a Waterpark

It’s not fancy, but it doesn’t need to be. It gets you soaked, and at the end of the day, that’s what really matters.

Judge: Trump Rape Accuser Can Go Ahead With Defamation Suit

E. Jean Carroll alleges the president defamed her when he said she was “totally lying” about their past.

Oakland A’s Coach Apologizes for ‘Unintentional’ Nazi Salute

When he realized what he was doing, he reportedly said: “Oh no, it’s like ‘Heil Hitler.’”