About: Google
EU gives Google 2 months to improve hotel, flight search results
Alphabet unit Google has two months to improve the way it presents internet search results for flights and hotels and explain how it ranks these or face possible sanctions, the European Commission and EU consumer authorities said.
Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny’s website blocked by regulator before election
Russian authorities blocked access to jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny's website on Monday (26 July) in the run-up to a parliamentary election, their latest attempt to sideline his allies cast by the Kremlin as US-backed trouble-makers.
French MP: Digital sovereignty is about being able to choose dependencies
In an interview with EURACTIV France, French centrist MP Philippe Latombe spoke about France's approach to digital sovereignty being about being able to choose who they can depend on and pointed to EU countries currently not being 'on the same page' when it comes to digital sovereignty.
Google fined €500 mln for lack of ‘good faith’ in negotiations with French press
The French competition authority has slapped a record €500 million fine on Google for not having negotiated "in good faith" with news publishers and agencies on neighbouring rights - the remuneration for the reuse of copyrighted content they are entitled to.
German data watchdogs welcome end of ‘forum shopping’ under GDPR regime
Germany's data protection authorities have welcomed a ruling by the EU Court of Justice that gives national authorities more leeway in taking action against online platforms data branches under urgency provisions of the EU data protection framework. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Global tax deal backed by 130 nations, Ireland and Hungary stay out
A total of 130 countries have agreed a global tax reform ensuring that multinationals pay their fair share wherever they operate, the OECD said on Thursday (1 July), but some EU states refused to sign up.
Outcry pushes Google to postpone third-party cookies ban to mid-2023
Faced with criticism from competitors and regulators, Google has postponed for mid-2023 its plan to put in place an alternative to third-party cookies, the Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLoC), acknowledging the need for more time and debate. EURACTIV France reports.
Germany fears EU digital law might loosen its antitrust grip on tech giants
German competition authorities have piled pressure on American tech giants since new rules came into force in January. However, the Digital Markets Act (DMA) currently being discussed at EU level may supersede the section of the German law that targets big tech. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Google ‘determined to find solution’ on ‘neighbouring rights’ for French press
I am "determined to find a solution" at a time when a new collective management body for press publishers is due to be created, Google France managing director, Sébastien Missoffe told French senators on Wednesday (23 June), adding that he "recognises neighbouring rights".
Anti-poverty groups criticise rich countries over G7 tax deal
Anti-poverty campaigners on Monday (7 June) criticised a deal reached by seven wealthy countries to impose a minimum tax on multinational companies, saying it would benefit rich nations at the expense of the poor.
Google to change global advertising practices in landmark antitrust deal
Google said it would make changes to its global advertising business to ensure it did not abuse its dominance, bowing to antitrust pressure for the first time in a landmark settlement with French authorities.
Civil society, tech giants oppose Germany’s state Trojans plans
Companies and civil society organisations in Germany have opposed a planned expansion of the surveillance of sources and communications which provides for a more stringent application of the so-called state Trojan in an open letter published Thursday. EURACTIV Germany reports.
German competition regulator initiates proceedings against Google
Germany's Federal Cartel Office initiated two proceedings against Google on Tuesday (25 May), looking into the Internet giant's market power and its handling of user data. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Manufacturers urged to remove pre-installed apps on new phones
As the EU debates its Digital Markets Act, calls have grown louder for manufacturers to remove all applications pre-installed on new phones in order to combat the oligopoly of "gatekeepers" such as Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon and Microsoft. EURACTIV France reports.
Google backs EU plans to fight child sexual abuse
Google has said it backs the need for a derogation from the ePrivacy directive and supports the notion of creating a European centre that would cover law enforcement, prevention and victim support at the EU level.
Google Maps on track to have ‘100 AI-powered improvements’
US digital giant Google unveiled on Tuesday (30 March) new features for its Google Maps app that will make use of artificial intelligence (AI). EURACTIV France reports.
French data watchdog to start checking cookie policy compliance
France's data protection watchdog CNIL will from Thursday (1 April) begin conducting checks to ensure websites are in compliance with new guidelines on advertising trackers after the deadline it granted expired. EURACTIV France reports.
Google to raise advertising fees to offset French, Spanish GAFA tax
In an email to French and Spanish advertisers last week, Google announced a 3% increase in advertising rates on its platform from May, to cover what has been termed the 'GAFA tax' in force in both countries. EURACTIV France reports.
French parliament adopts new rules to combat hate online
France's National Assembly adopted on Thursday (11 February) a series of articles and amendments for regulating hate online and on platforms and introduced steep penalties, as part of the country's much-debated bill on "reinforcing respect for the principles of the Republic". EURACTIV France reports.
Google challenges French data watchdog’s €100 million fine in court
France's administrative court known as the Council of State considered on Thursday an application for interim measures filed by Google LLC and Google Ireland after the French Data Protection Authority known as the CNIL fined the digital giant €100 million last December for its cookie collection policy. EURACTIV France was at the hearing.
Prohibit targeted advertising in Digital Services Act, EU data watchdog says
The EU should prohibit targeted advertising as part of new rules against Big Tech platforms in the bloc's Digital Services Act, the EU's institutional data protection watchdog has said.
Google’s advertising practices targeted by EU antitrust probe
EU antitrust regulators have sought information from advertisers regarding Google's advertising technology practices, a European Commission document seen by Reuters shows.
Spain’s new Google and Tobin taxes to generate about €1 billion this year
Spain’s new taxes on digital and financial services, approved last year, came into force on Saturday (16 January). The first collection is expected in March or April, EURACTIV’s partner EFE reports.