Regulator weighs stronger action

Antitrust chief says fines not working on tech multinationals.

BRUSSELS — The EU’s powerful antitrust chief said Tuesday she’s weighing up stronger measures to curb anticompetitive behavior because huge fines she has levied on tech multinationals aren’t working.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager didn’t offer specifics on possible actions she’s considering, although she downplayed the idea of breaking up companies.

Vestager is arguably the world’s most powerful technology regulator. She made a name for herself by hitting Silicon Valley giants with eye-popping fines, including nearly $10 billion in penalties for Google in three antitrust cases.

“You’re right to say that fines are not doing the trick and fines are not enough because fines are for illegal behavior in the past,” Vestager told European Union lawmakers.

“Some of the things we will

look into are even stronger remedies for competition to pick up in these markets.”

She cited the $1.7 billion fine she gave Google this year for abusing its dominant role in online advertis- ing. Even though the company stopped its behavior two years ago, “the market hasn’t picked up — what do we do? We have to con- sider remedies that are more far-reaching.”

Vestager was speaking at a hearing to confirm her for a second term as competition commissioner and for a new role as executive vice president responsible for making “Europe fit for the Digital Age.”

When asked about the possibility of breaking up companies, she said it “is a tool we have available.” But she added she is obliged to “use the least intrusive tool to restore fair competition.”

In response to concerns EU antitrust investigations have dragged on for years — time critics say allows big companies to cement their dominant position — Vestager said she plans to act more quickly, including deploying “intermediate measures” to pause any anti-competitive behavior.