Canada's antitrust regulators scrutinizing Google

Government regulators in Canada are poised to open a formal investigation into whether Google is abusing its dominance of the Internet search market to stifle competition and drive up digital advertising prices.

Canada's Competition Bureau indicated in a filing made in an Ottawa federal court earlier this week that it suspects that Google Inc. has been breaking the country's antitrust laws. Regulators are seeking a court order that would require Google's Canadian subsidiary to furnish antitrust investigators with internal company records.

Among other things, Canada regulators believe Google has been giving preferential treatment to its own services in its influential search rankings to thwart rivals.

Canada's concerns mirror those in an ongoing antitrust investigation into Google's business practices in Europe.

Google didn't immediately respond do a request for comment Friday.