GOOGLE SHOULD BREAK UP DIGITAL AD BUSINESS OVER COMPETITION CONCERNS, EUROPEAN REGULATORS SAY

European Union regulators hit Google with fresh antitrust charges, saying the only way to satisfy competition concerns about its lucrative digital ad business is by selling off parts of the tech giant's main moneymaker.

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The unprecedented decision to push for such a breakup marks a significant escalation by Brussels in its crackdown on Silicon Valley digital giants.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive branch and top antitrust enforcer, said its preliminary view after an investigation is that "only the mandatory divestment by Google of part of its services" would satisfy the concerns.

The 27-nation EU has led the global movement to crack down on Big Tech companies including groundbreaking rules on artificial intelligence - but it has previously relied on issuing blockbuster fines, including three antitrust penalties for Google worth billions of euros (dollars).

It's the first time the bloc has told a tech giant that it should split up key parts of its business over violations of the EU's strict antitrust laws, though details on what that could look like are not clear following the preliminary finding.