• by Laurie Sullivan  @lauriesullivan, September 7, 2020

Italy is the latest country to launch a probe against Google. The country’s authority on monopolies and trade practices on Monday also announced an investigation into Apple and Dropbox based on cloud storage systems.

There are six investigations in all, according to the Competition and Market Authority. All are based on cloud computing services: Google Drive, Apple iCloud, and Dropbox.

The Authority alleges unfair commercial practices and/or violations of the Consumer Rights Directive. One is for alleged vexatious clauses included in the contractual conditions.

The investigations for unfair practices against Google and Apple point to the failure to ask or inadequately asking the user permission to use the data and information for commercial purposes.

The same complaints are also raised against Dropbox, which is also accused of failing to provide information on the conditions, terms and procedures for withdrawing from the contract and exercising the right to reconsider in a clear and immediately accessible manner. 

On Friday, citing sources, The New York Times reported that the U.S. Justice Department plans to file an antitrust suit against Google within weeks.

“Justice Department officials told lawyers involved in the antitrust inquiry into Alphabet, the parent company of Google and YouTube, to wrap up their work by the end of September, according to three of the people,” reported the Times.