Google search engines antitrust inquiry: Texas AG investigates Googles abuse of power

Google search engines are under scrutiny by the attorney general in Texas. Its methods for recommending websites are the reason an antitrust inquiry was started, prompted by complaints that Google has abused its power as the dominant search engine on the Internet.

Word of the antitrust inquiry spread through the Web, of course forcing the topic to the top of Google trends. The Texas AG's investigation is a hot topic and reportedly focuses on whether or not Google manipulates its search results to quiet its competition.

According to the AP: "The pecking order of those results can make or break websites because Google's search engine processes about two-thirds of the search requests in the U.S. and handles even more volume in some parts of the world. That dominance means a website ranking high on the first page of Google's results will likely attract more traffic and generate more revenue, either from ads or merchandise sales."

The investigation in Texas is not novel as Google has already been under investigation by European regulators. Allegations of the search engine giant favoring its own services over those of rival websites has prompted a closer look by regulators. The AP reports that lawsuits have also been filed in the US alleging some bias in Google's search formula.

On Google's blog, a response to the Texas Attorney General's investigation was posted on Friday, September 3 by Google's deputy general counsel, Don Harrison, "As Search Engine Land first reported, we've recently been approached by Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott’s office, which is conducting an antitrust review of Google. We look forward to answering their questions because we’re confident that Google operates in the best interests of our users."

The Google blog post further indicates that the Texas Attorney General’s office inquired about several companies that offer features that Google sometimes includes in its search engines, namely Foundem, SourceTool and MyTriggers -- all who have previously filed lawsuits or regulatory complaints against Google.

Harrison wrote, "Given that not every website can be at the top of the results, or even appear on the first page of our results, it's unsurprising that some less relevant, lower quality websites will be unhappy with their ranking."

The AP reports that a spokesman for Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott did confirm the Google search engine antitrust investigation, but no further comment has been made.