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

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.