New York, Nov 13 (EFE) .- The Attorney General of Missouri (United States) today opened an investigation against Google to determine whether the technological giant has violated the legislation antitrust and consumer protection in that state, months after the European Commission imposed a fine for abuse of dominance.

Prosecutor Josh Howley sent on Monday a citation to Google to investigate some of its "corporate practices", such as the collection, use and disclosure of information about the company's users and their activity "online," his office said in a statement.

Howley's research also covers the alleged misappropriation by Google of content on its websites. competitors and the possible manipulation of the search results in your engine to favor your pages over those of your rivals.

"There are strong reasons to believe that Google has not I've been acting with the interest of the Misurians in mind, "the prosecutor said. giants of the industry, especially to cushion their benefits. "

The prosecutor said he is" opening the way "at the state level so that technology like Google" accountable "their actions, especially after the European Commission questioned its practices and fined the firm in June with 2,240 million euros (2,700 million dollars) for abuse of domain.

"Then, in July, the Electronic Privacy Information Center filed a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission regarding a Google program that tracks the consumer behavior, "the statement said.

The prosecutor warned that it is estimated that Google has access to 70% of transactions made with cards in the United States, as well as as to information about the location of their users, their devices, their "cookies", their searches on the internet and their web history.

"When a company has access to so much consumer information such as Google, it is my duty to ensure that they use it properly, "said Howley, who investigates whether the firm has deviated from the Trade Practices Act of Missouri and the antitrust laws of the state.

Speaking to The Wall Street Journal (WSJ), the prosecutor said he was "worried" that Google is still in the United States. a "pattern of behavior similar to" reported by the European Union (EU).

Google appealed to the General Court of the EU the fine imposed for allegedly favoring its own shopping comparison service in internet searches.

In an email to the Kansas City newspaper, a spokesperson for the technology said they have not yet received the citation but that Google uses "strong privacy protections" for its users and "continues to operate in a highly competitive and dynamic environment."

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finalized in 2013 a nearly two-year antitrust investigation of Google, which Howley called the WSJ "little more than a tap".

"I do not see much action coming from Washington. corporate practices of Google: the Mississippi has denounced several times, the last in January, and the Utah last year called the FTC to reopen an antitrust investigation against the signature.