Internet search giant Google is bracing for a fine that could top $500 million, after a federal probe of illegal online pharmacy ads placed on the website over the past three years, CNN has confirmed.
經(jīng)過美國聯(lián)邦政府長達三年的關于網(wǎng)絡藥物廣告的調查之后，CNN最近證實網(wǎng)絡搜索巨頭谷歌即將面對一項高達5億美元的罰單。

Law enforcement sources tell CNN that federal prosecutors in Rhode Island, along with undercover agents from the Food and Drug Administration, are heading up a massive investigation aimed at showing Google knowingly took advertising money from websites selling highly addictive drugs without a legitimate prescription.
美國的執(zhí)法部門有關人士指出，聯(lián)邦政府在Rhode Island的執(zhí)法官正在與來自食物與藥物監(jiān)督委員會的臥底探員共同調查一起大型案件，這次調查主要為了揭露Google高層在知情的情況下通過在網(wǎng)絡上販賣易非處方的上癮藥物以獲得利潤。

A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Providence told CNN he could "neither confirm nor deny" reports of the probe, and Google declined comment "since this is a legal matter."
一位發(fā)言人表示美國司法部既不否認也不承認這次調查的存在與否，而谷歌方面則否認這次調查，因為他們認為這是“司法事務”。

But in early May, Google filed a notice with the Securities and Exchange Commission saying it was setting aside $500 million to potentially resolve a case with the Department of Justice. In its filing, Google stated only that the matter involved "the use of Google advertising by certain advertisers."
但是就在今年的五月，谷歌卻發(fā)布了一份文件指出谷歌正在與美國聯(lián)邦證券交易委員會達成共識，他們將預留5億美元來解決這個與美國司法部可能產(chǎn)生的案件。在這份文件中，谷歌僅僅只是表示了這5億與“為某個廣告主提供谷歌的廣告服務”有關。

If a fine of $500 million or higher is in fact imposed on Google, legal experts say it would be the largest such penalty in U.S. history.
如果這份最低也是5億美元的罰款真的落實，法律人士表示這將會是美國歷史上廣告違規(guī)最大的一筆罰單。