The Competition Board (Board) decision dated 08.04.2021 and numbered 21-20/248-105 had found that Google held dominant position in the general search services market, and that Google favored its own local search (Local Unit ) and accommodation price comparison (Google Hotel Ads - GHA) services on the results page in terms of positioning and display against its competitors’ and denied rival local search websites entry into the Local Unit, thereby violating Article 6 of the Act no 4054 on the Protection of Competition by complicating the operations of its rivals and distorting competition in the local search services and accommodation price comparison services markets, and Google was imposed an administrative fine of 296,084,899.49 TL.

The Board had also introduced a number of obligations on Google in order to remedy the infringement and establish competition in the market.  Within that framework, Google had to position local search services and competing accommodation price comparison services on the results page in a way that is no less advantageous than its own services. Accordingly, GOOGLE submitted various suggestions for compliance, including new designs, in order to eliminate the concerns pointed out by the Board in the local search services market. While the review and evaluation of the compliance process were ongoing, it was determined that Google had implemented new designs called “Business Ads” under the tag “paid sponsored advertisement”, with the same nature and function as the local search designs that were the subject of the investigation.

In that framework, during the Board meeting of 26.06.2025, the decision numbered 25-23/562-362 was taken, stating that

• The new designs launched by Google (Busines Ads) were in violation of the obligation

“a. Within 6 (six) months following the notification of the reasoned decision, GOOGLE must ensure that competing local search services and competing accommodation price comparison services are no longer at a disadvantage before GOOGLE’s own related services on the general search results page,

included in the Board decision dated 08.04.2021 and numbered 21-20/248-105,

• Therefore, it was decided to impose an administrative fine on Google at 0.05% of its 2024 gross revenue for each day, amounting to 355,143,671.89 TL, pursuant to Article 17.1(a) of the Act no 4054.