Turkish Competition Authority imposes fine of USD14.85M on Google

(MENAFN) The Turkish Competition Protection Authority announced on Monday that it had imposed a fine of approximately 482 million liras (equivalent to USD14.85 million) on Google for its failure to meet obligations related to online hotel searches. This penalty stems from Google's alleged neglect in addressing concerns raised by the authority regarding fair competition with local search engines.

Last May, the Competition Protection Authority in Turkey had decided to levy a fine on Google for its purported failure to fulfill obligations concerning certain aspects of its local search services. The authority reiterated its stance, emphasizing its intent to impose a daily fine on the company until it complies with the directives issued by the Authority's Board of Directors, which have been in effect since April 15.

It is noteworthy that this is not the first time Google has faced significant fines related to competition issues. In March of the previous year, the Competition Authority in France imposed a hefty fine of 250 million euros on Google. This penalty was the result of a prolonged dispute regarding Google's compensation to French publishers in exchange for featuring news content related to them.

These actions against Google underscore the increasing scrutiny and regulatory oversight faced by tech giants regarding fair competition practices and compliance with regulatory obligations in various jurisdictions. 

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