UOKiK launches antitrust investigation into Google

The Polish Office of Competition and Consumer Protection (UOKiK) has launched an investigation into four companies affiliated with Google. The regulator alleges that the tech giant abused its market position in its dealings with Polish media publishers.

According to UOKiK President Tomasz Chróstny, Google failed to provide legally required data necessary for publishers to evaluate compensation offers for the use of their content. The investigation suggests that Google’s refusal to disclose how it utilizes press publications and the resulting revenues created an ‘asymmetry of information,’ preventing publishers from verifying the profitability of offers or proposing their own terms.

Under Polish competition law, abusing a dominant position can result in fines of up to 10 percent of an enterprise's annual turnover. A final decision will be made following the conclusion of the proceedings.