Google split still on the table, sys new EU antitrust chief

A POTENTIAL SPLIT of Google's business is still under consideration, according to Teresa Ribera, the European Union's new competition chief, who also pledged to build bridges with incoming US President Donald Trump.

- JOHN AINGER, SAMUEL STOLTON & OLIVER CROOK

Ribera said in an interview with Bloomberg Television that divestments - touted by her predecessor Margrethe Vestager and the US Department of Justice for the Alphabet unit - are one way of preventing Big Tech firms grabbing too much market power. "It's something that is of course on the table, and we try to work together with other relevant competition authorities worldwide, including the US competition authorities," she said.

"It is important to take into consideration this potential division, divestment of some of these businesses. We will be assessing case-by-case." She said that she would aim to build on the "legacy" of Vestager, who was a thorn in the side of Silicon Valley during her tenure.