The European Union’s highest judicial body, the EU Court, ruled on the 2nd to uphold the €4.125 billion (approximately RM19.2 billion) antitrust fine imposed on Google.
According to a statement released by the EU Court that day, the decision rejects the appeal filed by Google and its parent company, Alphabet, against the ruling of the lower General Court of the EU. Previously, the General Court found that the American tech giant had abused its dominant position in the mobile phone market through its Android operating system.
The EU Court stated that the General Court’s assessment was correct; Google’s pre-installation requirements and other behaviors could restrict market competition and reinforce the company’s dominance within the Android ecosystem.
In 2018, the European Commission determined that Google monopolized the market through its Android system, requiring smartphone manufacturers via pre-installation agreements to promote the company’s search engine and browser on mobile devices running the Android operating system. Google was therefore fined approximately €4.34 billion. In 2022, the General Court partially overturned the Commission’s findings regarding revenue-sharing agreements, but upheld the main conclusion, adjusting the fine to €4.125 billion. Google subsequently appealed to the EU Court.