EU Fines Google $1bn For Search Antitrust Violations

The European Union has fined Google 890 million euros, equivalent to approximately $1bn, after finding that the technology giant violated digital antitrust rules by using its Google Play app store and search engine to steer consumers toward its own services and applications at the expense of competitors.

The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch and highest antitrust enforcer, said it was acting in the interest of consumers after concluding an antitrust investigation that found Google had set up its platforms to corral users toward its own products, harming rival services in the process.

The fine is the latest in a long series of antitrust actions by Brussels against Google.

Google had recently lost its appeal of a $4.5bn antitrust fine imposed for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system.

Including earlier fines for its shopping comparison service and AdSense advertising platform, Google’s total antitrust bill with the EU now runs into tens of billions of euros across more than a decade of enforcement actions.

Google is expected to appeal the latest ruling.

The company has consistently denied wrongdoing in EU antitrust proceedings, arguing that its products succeed because they offer the best user experience rather than because of anti-competitive conduct.