The Turkish Competition Board has launched a formal investigation into Alphabet and its Google subsidiaries over allegations of discriminatory advertising and billing practices. The probe aims to determine whether the tech giant’s commercial conduct regarding online advertising services violates Turkey’s competition laws.
The inquiry focuses on Google’s billing mechanisms for advertisers and third-party agencies. Regulators are specifically examining whether the company’s methods for invoicing and its commercial terms create an unfair disadvantage for local market participants. This investigation follows a preliminary assessment by the Board, which found sufficient grounds to proceed with a full-scale review of Google’s dominance in the digital advertising sector.
If the Board finds that Google has leveraged its market position to restrict fair competition or implement discriminatory pricing, the company could face significant financial penalties—potentially up to 10% of its annual revenue in the Turkish market—alongside mandatory changes to its regional business operations.
