Italy’s antimonopoly agency has opened an investigation into Internet search giant Google and its parent company Alphabet over alleged unfair business practices, the regulator said on July 18.
The request that Google sends to its users to obtain consent to connect the offered services “may constitute a misleading and aggressive commercial practice,” the watchdog said.
In June, Italian authorities demanded that Google pay 1 billion euros in back taxes and fines, three sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. This comes seven years after the American company settled a tax dispute with Rome.
“We comply with tax laws in all countries where we operate, including Italy. We cooperate with the authorities,” – said the representative of Google in response to a request from Reuters.
