Google’s Rare Surrender on Ads Risks More Antitrust Pursuers

  • Ad-tech changes could prompt other enforcers to follow suit
  • Germany is also pursuing probe of Google’s ad business

Photographer: Denis Charlet/AFP/Getty Images

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Alphabet Inc.’s Google made a rare surrender to French and U.K. regulators last week when it offered global changes to its ad sales and tracking practices, marking a turning point in Europe’s long effort to rein in the search-engine giant.

The move could prompt other enforcers around the world to follow that example after years of inquiries and megafines by the European Commission haven’t changed Google’s behavior.