Investigation into Google FTC probe leaks demanded

Google has been increasingly in the news over the last six or so months regarding an FTC anti-trust probe into its business practices. Much of what the media featured about the case came from sources that claimed familiarity with the situation, which seems to have now led to FTC coming under Congress scrutiny over the amount of information that leaked to the media.

US representative, Darrel Issa who is chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, wrote to Scott Wilson, investigator general for the FTC, on 3 January, requesting an immediate investigation into the source of the leaks. According to Issa, the information made public ultimately influenced how the case was handled.

The repeat leaks provided by anonymous individuals presumably within the FTC to various news sources were obviously in contradiction to the requirement of the law.

Concern about the leaks had also been reportedly expressed by senator Ron Wyden and senator John Kerry who had also previously claimed that details of the FTC's investigation to Google were inappropriately shared with the media.

Issa wrote in the letter, ''Throughout the process, non-public information about developments in the investigation has been inappropriately shared with the media. It is believed that the commission may be contributing to, or is the source of, this information … To determine whether the commission, or its staff, has shared non-public information with the public or the press about the investigation of Google, I request the Office of Inspector General promptly investigate the matter.''

The FTC investigation of Google concluded last week with the Commission clearing Google of anti-competitive behaviour in regards to its Search feature.

A separate investigation led to Google voluntarily deciding to license standards-essential mobile technology patents, letting advertisers run cross-platform campaigns and allowing websites to opt out of having their content scraped by search.

Across the Atlantic, though the EU's investigation of Google's search practices was still ongoing.