Answer given by Executive Vice-President Vestager on behalf of the European Commission

The Commission is currently investigating Google’s use of data and its business practices in the context of the provision of so-called ‘ad tech’ services, for which Google acts as an intermediary between advertisers and online publishers. The preliminary investigation under the EU competition rules is ongoing.

More generally, the Commission is closely monitoring all market developments .

The issue of transparency in the online display advertising, including its bidding system, has also been one of the key themes of the recent work of the EU Observatory for the Online Platform Economy and its expert group[1].

Further, the recently adopted Commission proposal for the Digital Markets Act[2] aims to ensure that markets characterised by large digital gatekeepers remain fair and contestable for businesses and market entrants.

The Digital Markets Act proposal includes an obligation of transparency on digital gatekeepers with respect to advertising intermediation services[3].

• [1] Commission decision of 26.4.2018 on setting up the group of experts for the Observatory on the Online Platform Economy, C(2018) 2393 final.
• [2] Proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council on contestable and fair markets in the digital sector (Digital Markets Act), 15.12.2020, COM/2020/842 final.
• [3] Articles 5.g and 6(1).g of the Digital Markets Act proposal.