EU antitrust regulators aim to, reportedly, hand out a fine to Google over the distortion of search results to favour its shopping service. The fine will clear the way for two other cases involving the company.

According to Reuters, citing two people familiar with the matter, the decision will come after a number of complaints from the company’s US and European rivals triggered a seven-year investigation by the European Commission. Google has, in the past, rejected the charges.

Google could face a fine of up to $9bn (£7bn), with companies fined up to 10 per cent of their global turnover for breaching EU antitrust rules. The Commission will also force Google to stop its anti-competition practices though it is not yet clear what measures it will tell the tech giant to employ.

Further charges thrown at Google include using its Android mobile operating system to squeeze out competitors and blocking rivals in online search advertising. The Commission has said the company faces massive fines for both.