Author: MARK SCOTT

A growing number of European cloud computing companies are trying to take on American competitors like Google and Microsoft by playing up their privacy credentials.

Officials said the investigation would address whether large players like American tech giants were impeding competition for European consumers.

The move is part of an antitrust inquiry into whether the search giant has used its dominant position to give preferential treatment to its own services.

Companies like Ford, Procter & Gamble, Under Armour and the Spanish bank BBVA are working to outmaneuver start-ups for dominance on mobile devices.