Google Expected To Face Antitrust Charges From European Union Regulators

The European Union is expected to charge the internet giant with illegally using its search powers to squash competition.

Virginia Mayo / ASSOCIATED PRESS

The result of the charges could force the internet giant to change its business model in Europe, as well as pay a large fine.

The EU competition commissioner will allege that Google used its powers as a search engine to promote its other services over other companies, the Financial Times reported. The investigation began five years ago, the Wall Street Journal reported, and it's set to be the largest antitrust case against a company since Microsoft.

According to the New York Times , the company could settle with regulators, which would result in changes to its European business. If it doesn't, regulators could levy more than $6 billion in fines. So far, the largest fine ever assessed by the EU was more than $1 billion to Microsoft in 2009.