Europe's top court upholds €4.1 billion antitrust fine against Google

Europe’s top court largely upheld the record €4.1 billion ($4.7 billion) antitrust fine against Google, ending the company’s long legal battle and confirming that the US tech giant illegally used its dominant Android mobile operating system to disadvantage rivals. The European Court of Justice dismissed Google’s appeal, ruling that the original penalty imposed in 2018—later reduced to €4.1 billion by a lower court in 2022—was justified because Google forced smartphone makers to pre-install its Search app, Chrome browser, and Play Store while blocking competitors. This decisive legal outcome is a major win for EU regulators and is expected to strengthen Europe’s broader crackdown on Big Tech, affecting smartphone manufacturers, rival app developers, and consumers who face reduced choice due to the company’s anticompetitive practices.