EU''s Vestager says probe into Google AdSense case nearing end

EU regulators are close to wrapping up their third case against Alphabet unit Google involving its AdSense advertising service, Europe`s antitrust chief said on Wednesday, suggesting the company may soon be hit with another hefty fine.

The comments by European Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager come four months after she levied a record 4.34 billion euro ($5 billion) fine against Google for using its popular Android mobile operating system to block rivals.

That followed a 2.4 billion euro fine imposed on the company last year after it thwarted rivals of shopping comparison websites.

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The European Commission in 2016 opened a third case when it accused Google of preventing third parties using its AdSense product from displaying search advertisements from Google`s competitors.

"We are approaching the end of that investigation," Vestager told reporters at the Web Summit in Lisbon when asked for an update on the investigation.

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Google has denied the charges. Vestager can fine companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover for breaching EU rules.