Google is being investigated by regulators in Brussels over claims that it unfairly favors its tool for searching job listings, according to The Telegraph.

Margrethe Vestager, the European Commissioner for Competition, issued a warning yesterday that Google could be engaging in anti-competitive practices to benefit its Google for Jobs tool which launched two years ago. 

The service allows job adverts linked to external websites to appear in a designated Google search box which sits directly above links to third party websites. Earlier this month, 23 job boards in Europe wrote a letter of complaint to Vestager claiming anti-competitive behavior and calling for an end to Google’s alleged tactics.

Vestager has previously taken a hard look at the practices of US tech firms operating in the continent since taking up her position as the EU’s competition watchdog in 2014, issuing $9.2 billion in fines to Google over similar antitrust cases. Vestager also questioned if it’s right for companies like Google to have “such control over the success or failure of other companies, and be free to use that power in any way they like.'' 

In a statement, a Google spokesperson said, “Finding a job can be tough, so we worked with jobs providers to create a better experience on Search. Any provider - from individual employers to job listing platforms - can use this feature in Search, and many of them have seen a significant increase in the number of job applications they receive. Since launch, we've made a number of changes to address feedback in Europe."