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Google hit with another antitrust probe -- this time in India

The investigation will focus on Google AdWords, but the Competition Commission of India could expand its probe to other areas of the search giant's business.

Don Reisinger
CNET contributor Don Reisinger is a technology columnist who has covered everything from HDTVs to computers to Flowbee Haircut Systems. Besides his work with CNET, Don's work has been featured in a variety of other publications including PC World and a host of Ziff-Davis publications.
Don Reisinger

Google has another country to worry about in its fight against antitrust complaints.

India's Competition Commission announced today that it has launched an antitrust investigation into the search giant's practices on its advertising platform, AdWords. There is a chance, the agency said, that it could expand its investigation into other areas.

Google has been hit from all sides as regulators in the U.S. and European Union investigate whether the search company has violated antitrust regulations.

Last week, European Union competition commissioner Joaquin Almunia said his office is "very serious" about its investigation into Google's Search platform and will not rush to determine whether to it should launch a formal complaint against the company.

For its part, Google has said in the past it will cooperate with investigators and echoed that sentiment today in response to CNET's request for comment on the Indian inquiry.

"Though competition is always a click away, we understand that with success comes scrutiny," a company rep told CNET. "We have not received any communication from the Competition Commission of India, but we're always happy to answer questions about our business, and we're confident that our products are compliant with competition law in India."