European Parliament resolution could lead to break-up of Google, other internet companies

A practice that could, in theory, lead to the break-up of internet giants like Google may be in offing after the European parliament on Thursday approved a non-binding resolution that calls for the unbundling of search engines from other services that internet companies offer.

The resolution is a largely symbolic protest vote without immediate impact. However, it was approved with a large majority - 384 votes to 174, with 56 abstentions - showing widespread political backing.

EU Digital Economy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger underscored the resolution was "an important expression of opinion" but he added the EU was far from tearing digital multinationals apart.

"I don't think, at the end of the day, that the breaking up as such is what we can expect," Oettinger said. "Rather we are talking about the consistent and correct implementation of EU legislation to ensure that the interests" of EU businesses and consumers are maintained.

European Union institutions are piling pressure on Google to change the way it operates its business and applies EU rules.

EU antitrust authorities are currently investigating the internet giant to see whether it is abusing its leader-position following allegations it is biased in linking search results to its own services.

Competitors in Europe, where Google has an Internet search market share of about 90 per cent, have complained about the way the US-based company gives preference to its own Google-branded services at the top of search result pages, especially when consumers are likely to be searching for something to buy.

The EU Commission made it clear that the resolution will not have an impact on the investigation into the search engine.

On Wednesday, an EU data protection group advised that "the right to be forgotten" rule - which requires Google to delete upon request information that unfairly tarnishes an individual's reputation - should be expanded to the general .com domains.

The removal of search results currently applies to Google's local search pages covering the EU's 28 member nations and four other European countries, encompassing more than 500 million people. Those who switch to the firm's American domain, Google.com, can find unaltered search results.

(AP)