The US Federal Trade Commission is moving expeditiously to decide if Google used its search clout to harm competitors and expects to complete its investigation by the end of the year.

FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said the agency was looking for proof that Google manipulated its search results to steer users to its new businesses, like travel search. If it did, then it could be against the law. Leibowitz later said that he expected a decision by the end of the year.

Google rivals specialising in travel, shopping and entertainment have accused Google of steering Internet users away from their websites to Google products that provide similar services. Google has said it did nuttin and it was already broken before it got there.

European regulators are conducting a similar antitrust probe and are talking to Google to see if it is possible to reach an agreement.