Google Appeals Record $4B EU Antitrust Fine

Google has appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) a record 4.1 billion euro antitrust fine imposed by the European Commission. The fine, originally set at 4.3 billion euros, was reduced by a lower tribunal, which upheld the Commission’s decision. The penalty was levied on Google for allegedly using its Android mobile operating system to suppress competition and stifle rivals in the mobile market.

Google’s legal representative, Alfonso Lamadrid, argued before the court that the European Commission failed in its responsibility during the investigation. He claimed that the Commission made several legal errors and unfairly penalized Google for its competitive edge and innovation. According to Lamadrid, Google’s agreements with phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search, Chrome, and the Google Play Store did not hinder competition but rather encouraged it.

The European Commission had previously stated that these pre-installation requirements restricted competition by preventing manufacturers from using rival Android systems. Google, however, maintains that these agreements were pro-competitive and beneficial for the market. The outcome of this appeal is crucial, as it will set a precedent for future antitrust cases involving technology giants in the EU.

The court’s decision, expected in the coming months, will be final and cannot be appealed. Meanwhile, Google continues to face scrutiny from EU regulators over its ad tech business, with a decision anticipated later this year.