Brussels, Belgium – The European Union has imposed a hefty fine of €890 million (approximately $1.015 billion) on the American technology giant Google for blatantly violating European digital legislation. The European Commission announced in an official press release issued Thursday that the fine stemmed from Google granting its own services undue and discriminatory advantages over competitors in search engine results. Furthermore, the company was found to have restricted consumer and developer choices on its popular app store, Google Play.
Harming competitors and restricting offers
In the same context, European Commission Vice-President Hina Verkonen stated: “We have found that Google is harming other companies that offer similar services, such as shopping or sports, by not giving them the same level of visibility and fair access on the Google search engine.”
Virkonen added, explaining another aspect of the violations: “We also found that Google arbitrarily restricted app developers from offering cheaper and more competitive prices to customers through the Google Play app store.” These accusations underscore the continued monopolistic practices that stifle the freedom of the digital market and harm both consumers and startups.
A deadline for compliance with laws and the right to legal appeal.
Following the imposition of the fine, the European Commission confirmed that Google is now legally obligated to make immediate and fundamental changes to its operating practices to ensure full compliance with European digital legislation. The Commission warned that if the company fails to implement these required reforms, it will face further substantial and severe fines. For its part, Google has the full right to appeal the fine and the Commission’s decisions before the competent courts of the European Union. This sets the stage for a new and anticipated legal battle between the tech giants and European regulatory authorities.
