Google Takes Big Charge for Ad Probe
Google Inc. has set aside a half billion dollars for the potential resolution of a government investigation related to online advertising, the latest in the search giant’s continuing skirmishes with regulators around the world.
The company disclosed in a regulatory filing Tuesday that it had taken a $500 million charge earlier this month “in connection with a potential resolution of an investigation by the Department of Justice into the use of Google advertising by certain advertisers.”
The filing didn’t elaborate on the reasons for the investigation. A Google spokesman and a spokeswoman for the Department of Justice declined to comment.