European Unionhits Google with antitrust charge

The European Union charged Google on Wednesday with using its dominant Android mobile operating system to squeeze out rivals, opening a second front against the technology giant that could result in large fines.

EU antitrust regulators said that by requiring mobile phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and the Google Chrome browser to get access to other Google apps, the US company was harming consumers by stifling competition.

The EU's move is the latest in a series of antitrust challenges Google has faced in both the EU and countries including India, Brazil and Russia. US regulators closed their most recent investigation of the company in 2013 without taking action.