EU case against Google shows contrast with US

A woman holds her smart phone which displays the Google home page, in this picture illustration taken February 24, 2016. France is seeking 1.6 billion euros ($1.76 billion) in back taxes from U.S. Internet giant Google, criticised for its use of aggressive tax optimisation techniques, a source at the finance ministry said on Wednesday. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard/Illustration

WASHINGTON: The latest EU antitrust complaint against Google underscores a sharp contrast from the approach taken by the United States, which has largely taken a hands-off approach on emerging technologies. 

Some US tech industry leaders and analysts argue that the European Commission’s new filing on the Android mobile operating system shows a lack of understanding of the sector, and could stifle innovation in the fast-evolving market.