Alphabet's Google faced defeat on Tuesday in its battle against a 2.42 billion euro ($2.7 billion) fine imposed by EU antitrust authorities seven years ago. This penalty is part of a series of substantial fines levied against the company for various anti-competitive practices.
The European Commission penalized the world's leading internet search engine in 2017 for leveraging its own price comparison shopping service to unfairly outcompete smaller European competitors. A lower tribunal upheld the EU competition regulator's decision in 2021, leading Google to appeal to the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union.
CJEU judges highlighted that EU law does not prohibit the existence of a dominant position but does forbid its abusive use. 'In particular, the conduct of undertakings in a dominant position that has the effect of hindering competition on the merits and is thus likely to cause harm to individual undertakings and consumers is prohibited,' they stated.
Google has accumulated 8.25 billion euros in EU antitrust fines over the past decade. The company has contested two rulings related to its Android mobile operating system and AdSense advertising service and is currently awaiting the outcomes. Additionally, it is contesting new EU antitrust charges from last year that could compel it to divest part of its lucrative adtech business, following accusations that it favors its own advertising services.
