Google Faces Texas Antitrust Probe
Google will face an antitrust investigation in Texas over charges that it manipulated search results, in what appears to a similar case to one pending in Europe.
Google confirmed an earlier report by Search Engine Land Friday after the close of the stock market that Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has contacted it in connection with an "antitrust review" of Google's business practices. Earlier this year,
"We look forward to answering their questions because we're confident that Google operates in the best interests of our users," Google's Don Harrison said in a blog post. A representative for Abbott's office confirmed it has opened an antitrust investigation into Google's business practices but would not provide any further details on that investigation.
Google said that Texas had asked it specifically about Foundem's complaints as well as those of TradeComet and myTriggers, two U.S.-based companies who have filed their own antitrust suits against Google for allegedly manipulating search results to harm the two companies. TradeComet's case was dismissed on a technicality--incorrect venue--while a case involving myTriggers is pending in Ohio.
Google's rise to the top of the Internet
Microsoft, itself a target of antitrust scrutiny a decade ago,