According to the announcement on the Competition Authority’s website, in line with the investigation carried out in 2021, it was determined that Google provided its local search (Local Unit) and accommodation price comparison (Google Hotel Ads-GHA) services with an advantage over its competitors in terms of location and display on the general search results page. was done.
In this context, it was concluded that Google violated the relevant article of the Law on the Protection of Competition by preventing rival local search sites from entering the Local Unit, making it difficult for its competitors to operate and causing competition in the accommodation price comparison services markets to deteriorate.
296 MILLION 84 THOUSAND 899 LIRA ADMINISTRATIVE FINE
While the Board imposed an administrative fine of 296 million 84 thousand 899 liras on the company during this period, it imposed certain obligations to eliminate the violation and establish effective competition in the market.
Under these obligations, Google was required to ensure that competing local search and competing accommodation price comparison services were not disadvantaged by their respective services on the public search results page.
In this process, the company presented to the Board its recommendations for measures to eliminate the concerns expressed in the “local search services” market.
At the Board’s meeting dated March 21, 2024, it was decided to implement the precautionary recommendations presented by Google and monitor them for a period of 3 months.
According to the statement, these measures were fully implemented by the company as of April 15, 2024. However, it was determined that Google did not comply with the obligations decided to be implemented in terms of “local search services” in terms of hotel queries.
Thus, the Board concluded that Google did not fulfill these obligations.
ADMINISTRATIVE FINE DECISION AT THE RATE OF 5 TEN THOUSANDS OF THE GROSS REVENUE OF 2023 FOR EACH DAY
Due to the violation in question, the Board decided to impose an administrative fine on Google at the rate of 5 ten thousandths of its 2023 gross revenues for each day, starting from May 15, 2024 and continuing until these obligations are fulfilled. (AA)