Tech
EU Court Upholds €2.4 Billion Fine Against Google
Europe’s top court has upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google, marking the end of a lengthy legal battle over the tech giant’s abuse of market dominance in its shopping comparison service. The fine, originally imposed by the European Commission in 2017, was the largest at the time, although it has since been surpassed by another fine against Google.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that the European Commission was correct in finding Google’s practices “discriminatory,” rejecting Google’s appeal in its entirety. The court ordered Google and its parent company, Alphabet, to cover their own legal costs as well as those of the Commission.
Google expressed disappointment with the ruling, which brings closure to a case that began in 2009, initiated by British firm Foundem, when the UK was still part of the EU. The decision was celebrated by competitors like Kelkoo, who called it “a win for fair competition and consumer choice.”