The European antitrust authorities have given Google three more weeks to counter charges that it unfairly demotes rival shopping services in internet search results. The extension was given after a Google inquiry, in order to prepare its defense. The U.S. technology giant was originally due to respond to the accusations on Thursday.

Google has also an Oct. 26 deadline to reply to another charge of blocking competitors in online search advertising and Oct. 31 to a third charge that it uses its dominant Android operating system for smartphones to squeeze out rivals.

Google faces fines up to $7.4 billion, or 10 percent of its global turnover, for each case if found guilty of breaching EU rules.