EU to force Google to change listing of search results

BRUSSELS (AFP) - Google will have to change the way it presents search results or face anti-trust charges for favouring its own services, the European Union's (EU) competition chief told the Financial Times.

EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia was quoted as saying by the British daily that he had concerns over "the way they present their own services" and feared "there is an abuse of this dominant position" the company holds in Internet searches.

Earlier this month the United States (US) Federal Trade Commission said it lacked a legal basis to bring a case against Google for allegedly abusing its dominance in Internet searches, but that it had won commitments from the company to end its "most troubling" practices.

The EU launched its investigation of Google in November 2010 following a complaint by several companies, including Ciao, owned by US software giant Microsoft, which added its own charge in early 2011.