France fines Google $268 million for unfair online treatment of ads

A fine of $268 million has been imposed on Google for abusing its dominant position in the online advertising market.

France's anti-competition watchdog decided Monday to fine Google 220 million euros (USD 268 million) for abusing its “dominant position” in the online advertising business, an unprecedented move, the body said. Practices used by Google “are particularly serious because they penalise Google's competitors” in certain markets and publishers of mobile sites and applications, the statement by the Competition Authority said. “The authority recalls that a company in a dominant position is subject to a particular responsibility, that of not undermining,” the statement said.