Google reaches settlement with EU to end 'dominance in search, ad business' probe

London, July 25 (ANI): Google and Europe's top competition authority have reportedly agreed the outlines of a settlement to end the two-year investigation into allegations the U.S.-based firm abused its dominance of the Internet search and advertising markets.

According to sources, the details of the deal have not been finalised but among the proposals are thought to be significant changes to the way Google ranks search results.

If the deal is agreed then Google would escape formal antitrust charges and possible regulatory intervention by the European Commission (EU) over claims that it manipulates search results to benefit its own website, the Telegraph reports.

According to a Bloomberg report, Antoine Colombani, a spokesman for the European Commission, said that the EU had "reached a good degree of understanding on possible solutions" and that the two sides would continue discussions.

The Commission has been investigating Google since 2010, when several British and French companies complained that their sites were being pushed down search results to favour Google's own, competing websites. (ANI)