Germany’s competitors authority is investigating Alphabet Inc’s Google News Showcase, a platform which makes information accessible on the tech large’s information web site, it mentioned on Friday.

Cooperation with Google might be enticing for publishers and different information suppliers and supply shoppers higher info providers, it mentioned.

“However, it must be ensured that this does not lead to discrimination between individual publishers,” the assertion mentioned. “Nor must Google’s strong position in access to end customers lead to a crowding out of competing offerings from publishers or other news providers.”

In response, Google mentioned that its Showcase product, which was launched final autumn, was considered one of some ways it supported journalism, constructing on merchandise and funds that every one publishers can profit from.

“Showcase is an international licensing programme for news – the selection of partners is based on objective and non-discriminatory criteria, and partner content is not given preference in the ranking of our results,” mentioned spokesperson Kay Oberbeck. He added that Google would cooperate with the probe.

The case is the second to be opened in opposition to Google in a matter of days, after the German antitrust physique launched a probe into whether or not the US search large was exploiting its market dominance in the way in which it handles consumer knowledge.

The Bonn-based watchdog has additionally made use of the improved powers it was given below current reforms to Germany’s competitors legal guidelines to open new probes into Facebook and Amazon over their knowledge practices.

© Thomson Reuters 2021