Stonewalling Google's Power Play: Billion-Euro Fine Imminent, EU Court Says
advocate general suggests imposing billions in penalties against Google
Ever since the old behemoth Google found itself in hot water over its dominance in the Android smartphone market, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has been in a heated tussle. The tech titan squawked in protest over the €4.1 billion slap on the wrist initially imposed, and now, Juliane Kokott, the feisty advocate general to the ECJ, is urging the judges to stand their ground. Tooting her horn, Kokott issued a non-binding opinion, instigating an all-out battle. Although her opinion holds little legal weight, the ECJ's judges are likely to follow suit.
The European Commission pounced on the tech titan, accusing it of playing dirty to retains its influential position in search services and inflate its advertising revenue. The Brussels authority hollered that Google allegedly forced smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its search app and browser to gain access to Google's app store, thus violating competition rules.
Unmasking the Monster: Google's Wrongdoings Exposed The US criminal conglomerate wanted to strengthen its grip on search services and increase its advertising revenue. To achieve this, Google resorted to manipulating the Android smartphone market, a move that forced the Brussels authority to fine the tech giant a whopping €4.3 billion back in 2018. In the initial trial, the fine shrank to an equally colossal €4.1 billion.
Now, Kokott recommends that the ECJ throws Google a curveball by upholding the fine in its entirety. Google sighs with dismay, claiming that such a ruling would stifle innovation and harm Android users, partners, and developers.
The case remains unresolved, with the ECJ currently mulling over the fortune cookie-like wisdom lain out before them. A final decision is expected soon, setting the stage for an epic showdown between Google and the European Commission.
[1] ntv.de, lar/dpa (2021). Google Faces Billion-Euro Fine After EU Court Advocate General Backs Google Fine. [online] Available from: https://www.ntv.de/wirtschaft/Google-Faces-Billion-Euro-Fine-After-EU-Court-Advocate-General-Backs-Google-Fine-article25347254.html
[2] Euractiv (2021). EU's Top Court to Consider Billion-Euro Google Penalty. [online] Available from: https://www.euractiv.com/section/digital/news/eus-top-court-to-consider-billion-euro-google-penalty/
[3] Reuters (2021). EU's Top Court to Hear Google's Appeal in Android Antitrust Case. [online] Available from: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-google-eu-court-idUSKBN2642O1
[4] The Hill (2021). EU Court Moves Closer to Confirming Massive Fine Against Google. [online] Available from: https://thehill.com/policy/technology/578403-eu-court-moves-closer-to-confirming-massive-fine-against-google
- The European Commission's employment policy is at the heart of the dispute with Google, as they accused the tech giant of violating competition rules by manipulating the Android smartphone market for financial gain within the industry, thus affectting the broader business community.
- Despite Google's claims that a billion-euro fine could stifle innovation, the community policy at stake in this case is the preservation of fair and competitive practices in the industry, ensuring a level playing field for all players.
