A probe into online platforms such as Amazon and Google will be launched this year by Brussels.
The FT reports that a probe will look into how these companies are listing search results and how they use customer data.
Draft proposals from the European Commission state that a probe will start before the end of 2015 and will focus on the role of paid for links and advertisements in search results.
It will also look at the ability of individuals and businesses to move from platform to platform, however, this will not form part of the ongoing competition probe into Google.
The planned assessment has come after pressure on the EU from French and German ministers’ to investigate the dominant role being played by some web giants.
A general regulatory framework has been called for by French economic minister Emmanuel Macron and his German counterpart Sigmar Gabriel.
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