Google: Senate To Examine Search Engine Ranking Allegations

The Senate Antitrust Committee for the 112th Congress singled out Google's growing dominance online and said the committee will examine allegations raised by e-commerce Web sites competing with Google. The allegation state these companies are being treated unfairly in search ranking, and in their ability to purchase search advertising.

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, set the agenda for the new session of Congress. One point includes: Competition in Online Markets/Internet Search Issues.

The agenda states "Access to the wealth of information and e-commerce on the Internet is essential for consumers and business alike. As the Internet continues to grow in importance to the national economy, businesses and consumers, the Subcommittee will strive to ensure that this sector remains competitive, that Internet search is fair to its users and customers, advertisers have sufficient choices, and that consumers' privacy is guarded. In recent years, the dominance over Internet search of the world's largest search engine, Google, has increased and Google has increasingly sought to acquire e-commerce sites in myriad businesses. In this regard, we will closely examine allegations raised by e-commerce websites that compete with Google that they are being treated unfairly in search ranking, and in their ability to purchase search advertising. We also will continue to closely examine the impact of further acquisitions in this sector."

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