EU court upholds multi-billion-euro antitrust fine against Google

LUXEMBOURG (ILKHA), Europe's highest court upheld a multi-billion-euro antitrust fine against Google on Thursday, dismissing an appeal by the company and its parent Alphabet Inc. and confirming a European Commission finding that Google abused its dominant market position through its Android mobile operating system. The Court of Justice of the European Union rejected the appeal, thereby confirming the penalty imposed for Google Search's abuse of a dominant position in the context of the Android operating system, the judges said in their ruling. The case stems from a landmark 2018 Commission decision that fined Google 4.34 billion euros for practices including requiring smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search, the Chrome browser, and the Google Play Store. The EU's General Court reduced the fine to approximately 4.1 billion euros in 2022. Google expressed disappointment and argued the judgment failed to fully recognize its investments in developing Android as an open and accessible platform. A company spokesperson said Google had already modified its business agreements to comply with the initial decision back in 2018 and remains focused on continued innovation and openness for users, partners and developers. The decision brings to a close one of the most significant antitrust cases pursued by European regulators against a major technology company.