European Court Upholds €4.1 Billion Google Antitrust Fine for Android Abuses

The European Union's General Court has largely upheld a landmark antitrust ruling against Google, confirming a €4.1 billion fine. The 2018 decision by the European Commission found that Google illegally exploited the Android operating system to solidify its search engine's market position, hindering rivals.

Specifically, the court agreed that Google imposed unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and network operators. These included mandating the pre-installation of the Google Search app and Chrome browser as a condition for licensing other Google applications, such as the Play Store. Additionally, Google made payments to manufacturers and operators on condition that only Google Search was pre-installed on their devices.

While the court largely affirmed the Commission's findings, it did slightly reduce the initial €4.34 billion penalty, citing minor discrepancies in the calculation of the infringement. This marks the second major antitrust victory for the European Commission against Google, following a €2.4 billion fine in 2017 for favouring its own shopping comparison service in search results.

Google maintains that its Android business model fosters competition and innovation, stating that the judgement "fails to recognise" the company's "significant investment to ensure Android remains open." The company has indicated it is reviewing the decision and considering its next steps, which could include an appeal to the European Court of Justice.