The Federal Trade Commission is beginning an antitrust investigation into Google’s dominance of the Web, starting with subpoenas, The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday, citing people familiar with the matter.
A spokeswoman at the FTC told National Journal she could not comment, and Google also declined comment, but the newspaper said the five-member commission was preparing to send formal demands for information within days.
Google has been the subject of several antitrust investigations. Most recently, in March, the Internet giant settled with the FTC over complaints that it violated consumers’ privacy with last year's rollout of its social-networking service Buzz.
Privacy and consumers groups have accused the government of doing the bare minimum to regulate Google.
The Wall Street Journal said the new FTC investigation would examine fundamental issues relating to Google's core search advertising business, including whether Google unfairly channels users to its own growing network of services at the expense of rivals.
In November, the European Commission opened its own formal investigation into allegations by several companies that it had violated European competition laws.
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