Feng Huang Wang·2026-02-12 23:11Core Viewpoint - Google is under investigation by the EU for potential illegal manipulation of search engine advertising pricing, which may harm advertisers' interests [1][2] Group 1: Investigation Details - The European Commission sent letters to potentially affected companies on February 9, expressing concerns that Google may have artificially raised auction prices in advertising [1] - If evidence supports these allegations, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue, which could exceed $40 billion (approximately €33.7 billion) based on its reported revenue of $402.836 billion for 2025 [1] - The investigation is still in its early stages, but it may soon be formally announced by the EU's antitrust chief, Teresa Ribeiro [1] Group 2: Previous Penalties and Context - Google has previously been fined a total of €9.5 billion (approximately $11.3 billion) by the EU, including a nearly €3 billion (approximately $3.56 billion) fine last September for distorting competition in the advertising technology sector [2] - This latest investigation is part of a series of inquiries by the EU into Google's practices, including a December investigation into Google's use of online content for AI development [3] Group 3: International Relations - The EU's increased regulatory scrutiny of large tech companies has drawn criticism from the U.S., with past pressures on the EU to relax its tech regulations and threats of tariffs [3] - Further penalties against Google could exacerbate tensions between the EU and the Trump administration in the U.S. [3]