Court advisor supports multibillion fine against Google in EU antitrust case

In London, Google faced a significant setback in its legal battle against a multibillion-dollar antitrust fine imposed by the European Union. The case, which dates back to a 2018 ruling by the EU's executive Commission, found that Google abused its dominance in the mobile operating system market through Android. This action was deemed harmful to competition and significantly limited consumer choice. The original fine began at 4.134 billion euros and was subsequently reduced to 4.125 billion euros by a lower court, prompting further legal challenges from Google. Juliane Kokott, the advocate general at the European Court of Justice, provided a non-binding opinion recommending that the higher court dismiss Google's appeal and maintain the reduced fine. While expert opinions from the advocate general are typically influential, they are not law and the judges will soon deliberate on the case. Google expressed its disappointment with Kokott's opinion, asserting that it undermines incentives for investing in open platforms and negatively affects Android's users, partners, and app developers. The ongoing legal battles are part of a broader trend wherein the European Commission has aggressively pursued antitrust actions against major technology companies. Over the past decade, Google has accrued three significant antitrust fines amounting to over 8 billion euros from the EU. This has been a critical component of the bloc's strategy to promote fair competition and protect consumers amid rising concerns over the influence of large tech firms. As the case progresses, there is a heightened scrutiny on how such fines might impact not only Google's operations but also the broader landscape for app developers and platform users across Europe and beyond. The outcome could reshape how tech giants engage with regulatory frameworks and influence future actions by other jurisdictions considering similar antitrust investigations.