In an interview with the Daily Telegraph, Vestager told The Telegraph that the threat to split up the internet giant must be kept open. In June last year, the commissioner hit Google with a record £2.1 billion fine for giving an illegal advantage to its own comparison shopping. Google has a 91.5 per cent share of the search engine market in Europe, creating a virtual monopoly. Google may face a fine of five per cent of the revenues of its parent company, Alphabet, which would amount to around $4.5bn (£3.5bn). It is understood the firm is appealing against the ruling.

An awakened eye

In the interview Vestager states, 'I think it important to keep that question open and on the agenda.' When asked if the only solution to its dominance was to break up the company, she added: 'We are not there yet but it is important to keep an awakened eye.' Last year, Vestager was described by Bloomberg as 'the Eurocrat who makes corporate America tremble.' However, she denies targeting tech companies, telling the Telegraph: 'I think the motives for illegal behaviour are the same for any kind of company. Money, fear, power – these motives have been the same across centuries.'