FTC likely to start antitrust probe against Google: report

US regulators are likely to serve subpoenas to Google, as part of a formal investigation into whether the Internet major abused its dominance in web-search advertising, says a media report.

The Wall Street Journal has reported the civil probe, which has the potential to reshape how companies compete on the Internet, could be the most serious legal threat yet to the 12-year-old company.

The probe would not necessarily lead to any federal allegations of wrongdoing against Google, the daily said.   

"Federal regulators are poised to hit Google Inc with subpoenas, launching a broad, formal investigation into whether the Internet giant has abused its dominance in web-search advertising," the report said quoting people familiar with the matter.

Generally, a subpoena refers to a directive from a government agency seeking information.

Even though in recent years, Google has faced several antitrust probes, American authorities have limited its investigations largely to reviews of the company's mergers and acquisitions.    

"The new inquiry, by contrast, will examine fundamental issues relating to Google's core search-advertising business, its biggest money-maker," the daily noted.

According to the daily, issues in the FTC probe are expected to include whether Google searches unfairly steer users to the company's own growing network of services at the expense of rival providers.

Attributing to people familiar with the matter, the report said that Federal Trade Commission's five-member panel of commissioners is preparing to serve Google with civil subpoenas within days.  

"The FTC's preparations to subpoena Google are the first concrete signals that the agency's commissioners have decided there is enough evidence to move forward with a formal investigation.  

"The probe is expected to take a year or more to unfold, and it won't necessarily lead to any charges," the Wall Street Journal said.