Google Search (Shopping) as a Precedent for Disintermediation in Other Sectors - The Example of Google for Jobs

Abstract

With its Google Search (Shopping) decision of 27 June 2017 the European Commission set the legal framework for the assessment of any favouring of Google-own services on its general search results pages. Using the example of the recent launch of Google for Jobs in Europe, this article examines the scope of this precedent. To this end, the authors (i) summarise the finding of the Google Search (Shopping) decision, (ii) describe the functioning, launch and economic consequences of Google for Jobs in Europe and (iii) analyse this launch from a competition law perspective.

The article concludes that Google for Jobs is an online recruitment service akin to a job board or job search aggregator that is separate from Google’s general search service. Google’s favouring of Google for Jobs on its general search results pages as compared to competing services is capable of foreclosing the competition on the market for online recruitment services. Thus, Google’s conduct constitutes an abuse of dominance under the legal framework set by the Google Search (Shopping) decision.

Keywords: Competition Law, Antitrust, Abuse of Dominance, Unilateral Conduct, Google, Multi-Sided Market, Google for Jobs