Google officials on Friday proposed an alternative plan to breaking up its European-based online search business after the European Commission deemed it a monopoly and levied a $3.5 billion fine in September. File Photo by Hannibal Hanschke\/EPA<\/p>\n
Nov. 14 (UPI) — The European Union wants Google<\/a> to dismantle its European-based advertising-technology business, which it has deemed a monopoly, but the tech firm said Friday it has another plan.<\/p>\n Google officials announced they submitted a compliance plan following the European Commission’s ad-tech decision, which Google will appeal.\n<\/p>\n “Our proposal fully addresses the EC’s decision without a disruptive breakup that would harm thousands of European publishers and advertisers who use Google tools to grow their business,” Google said in a blog post<\/a>.<\/p>\n Google’s proposal “includes immediate product changes to end the specific practices the Commission challenges,” it said.\n<\/p>\n “For example, we are giving publishers the option to set different minimum prices for different bidders when using Google Ad Manager,” Google officials said.<\/p>\n They also propose addressing accusations of conflicts of interest by giving publishers and advertisers more choices and greater flexibility by “increasing the interoperability of our tools.”<\/p>\n Google officials said they intend to cooperate with the EC while it considers the proposal and “are committed to finding an effective solution that provides certainty and consistency for our customers across Europe, the United States and globally.”\n<\/p>\n The EC in September fined Google $3.5 billion<\/a> in a search engine antitrust case and wants Google to break up its European business.<\/p>\n