How Google Hurt Competition and Got Away With It, Reveals FTC Report

A new document detailing Google's workings in exploiting its position at the cost of competition has surfaced.

The document was part of two-year antitrust investigations submitted in 2012 by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigators to the organization. Though it showed how Google abused its monopolistic position, the report did not recommend taking action against the search engine giant, reports The Wall Street Journal.

The report showed that Google demoted or did not display links to certain competitors' websites in highly commercial verticals like travel, shopping and local businesses. The report also concludes that Google's acts resulted in harm to consumers and hurt innovation. The findings are in line with complaints made by several companies against Google during the antitrust investigations. Yelp was one of the companies that accused Google of copying its reviews to promote the latter's services.

However at the time of investigations, Google's senior officials denied any wrongdoing. A spokesperson for Google on Thursday told WSJ that the FTC had decided against action after an exhaustive review.

PC World reported that the new report could have a bearing on antitrust proceedings Google is facing in Europe. The European Commission initiated proceedings in 2010 but the case is yet to conclude. The new report is expected to given the commission political armor it needs to go ahead.