Google has been facing legal heat in Europe for several users over how it handles and collects user data as well as its monopoly-like actions, but today the company finally admitted that it has made some mistakes. Google’s European chief executive Matt Brittin stated today to Politico that Google has failed to make its intentions well-known in Europe.
Brittin still says that Google does not agree with the accusations it has faced in Europe, however, but notes that the company is still open to a settlement agreement. Google is also working to adjust its mindset in Europe to be more aware of the differences between Europe and America.
Brittin’s role as president for Europe was created to unify Google’s European operations. Brittin says that he will be more hands-on in the running of Google’s European efforts and will make an effort to be in Brussels as least once a month.
“We don’t always get it right,” Brittin said. “As far as Europe is concerned: we get it. We understand that people here are not the same in their attitudes to everything as people in America. We just didn’t have the people on the ground to be able to have some of those conversations as we grew.”
Google has been accused of several different anticompetitive practices in Europe over the last five years. Claims include that Google has been scrapping content from its competitors for use on its own services, displaying its services more prominently than others, and abusing its monopoly like power. Earlier this year, it was revealed that the EU is preparing to file antitrust charges against the company. Google and the EU have already tried to settle the investigation three times
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