Google's adtech business set to face formal EU probe by year-end

[BRUSSELS] EU antitrust regulators are set to open another front against Alphabet unit Google by launching a formal investigation into its digital advertising practices, said people familiar with the matter, with the move likely to come before the end of the year.

A European Commission probe could pose the biggest threat to Google, which made US$147 billion in revenue from online ads last year, more than any other company in the world.

Ads on its own properties, including search, YouTube and Gmail, accounted for the bulk of sales and profits. About 16 per cent of revenue came from its display or network business, in which other media companies use Google technology to sell ads on their website and apps.

The Commission declined to comment. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

In a questionnaire sent to Google rivals and third parties earlier this year and seen by Reuters, the EU watchdog asked if advertisers receive rebates when they use Google intermediaries which allow advertisers or media agencies to buy advertising inventory from many sources.

The EU competition enforcer has in the last decade slapped fines totalling US$9.8 billion on the world's most popular internet search engine for blocking rivals in online shopping, Android smartphones and online advertising.

REUTERS