Luxemberg, Tuesday, September 10, 2024-In a significant legal ruling, the European Union’s (EU) highest court has upheld a €2.4 billion fine imposed on Google today.
The fine, originally levied by the European Commission, stems from an antitrust investigation into Google’s practices.
The court’s decision confirms the penalty for Google’s alleged abuse of its dominant position in the search engine market.
The Commission had charged Google with using its search engine to unfairly promote its own comparison shopping service, disadvantaging competitors.
The ruling is a major victory for EU regulators and reinforces the Commission’s stance against anti-competitive behavior by tech giants.
The fine, which dates back to 2017, was initially imposed for violating EU antitrust rules by manipulating search results to favor Google’s own shopping service over competitors.
Google had argued that the fine was disproportionate and that it had not engaged in anti-competitive practices. However, the court’s decision upholds the Commission’s findings, emphasizing the need for fair competition in digital markets.
This ruling is part of a broader effort by European regulators to address market dominance issues among major technology companies. The outcome underscores the EU’s commitment to enforcing antitrust laws and ensuring competitive practices in the technology sector.
The decision may have far-reaching implications for Google’s operations and its competitive strategies in the European market. The company now faces ongoing scrutiny from EU regulators and must comply with the court’s ruling to avoid further penalties.
