EU regulators fine Google 1.49 billion euros for blocking advertising rivals

[March 20, 2019]    BRUSSELS (Reuters) - EU antitrust regulators handed down a 1.49 billion euro ($1.69 billion) fine to Alphabet unit Google on Wednesday for blocking rival online search advertisers, marking the company's third penalty in two years.

An illuminated Google logo is seen inside an office building in Zurich, Switzerland December 5, 2018. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

Last year, the EU competition enforcer imposed a record 4.34 billion euro fine on Google for using its popular Android mobile operating system to block rivals. This followed a 2.42 billion euro fine in 2017 for hindering rivals of shopping comparison websites.

(Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; editing by Philip Blenkinsop)

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