The European Union's second-highest court upheld the European Commission's 2018 antitrust verdict against Google for exploiting its Android mobile operating system to eliminate competition on Wednesday. The General Court confirmed that Google had put illegal limitations on Android phone makers in order to promote its search engine. The punishment was decreased by 5% to EUR 4.125 billion by the court (roughly Rs. 32,800 crore). Nonetheless, the fine is a record for an antitrust infraction. The Alphabet-owned corporation, on the other hand, expressed unhappiness with the EU court's decision.
According to Reuters, the EU's General Court has upheld an antitrust case filed against Google in 2018 for exploiting its Android mobile operating system to push out competitors. After evaluating the period of the breach, the top EU court decreased the punishment from EUR 4.34 billion (approximately Rs. 34,200 crore) imposed by the commission in 2018. It is still a record penalties for antitrust violations.
According to the court, "the General Court substantially accepts the Commission's finding that Google imposed illegal limitations on makers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators in order to consolidate its search engine's dominating position."
"This win will encourage the Commission in implementing its new rule reining in Big Tech, the Digital Markets Act," said lawyer Thomas Vinje for industry group FairSearch, according to Reuters.
Google expressed dissatisfaction with the EU court's decision. The latest verdict can be challenged in the European Union's top court, the Court of Justice.
In its 2018 ruling, the commission accused Google of improperly requiring Android phone manufacturers to pre-install the Google Search app and the Chrome browser as a condition for licencing its Google Play Store.
