EU court rules Google must pay €2.4B fine

The European Court of Justice has ruled that Google must pay a €2.4 billion fine for abusing its market dominance through its shopping comparison service. This fine, originally imposed by the European Commission in 2017, was the largest at the time and has now been upheld after Google's appeal was dismissed. The case began in 2009 when British firm Foundem filed a complaint, alleging that Google favored its own shopping recommendations over competitors in search results. The court found Google's conduct to be discriminatory, and the ruling has been welcomed by competitors like Kelkoo, who view it as a victory for fair competition. Google expressed disappointment with the decision but noted that it had made changes to comply with the Commission's ruling since 2017. Legal experts suggest that this ruling could lead to further complications for Google, as several follow-on actions for compensation are pending in national courts. Additionally, Google is currently facing other antitrust challenges, including a lawsuit from the U.S. government regarding its advertising technology practices. The EU has previously fined Google a total of €8.2 billion for various antitrust violations, and ongoing investigations may result in further penalties.

- The European Court of Justice upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google for market abuse.

- The case originated from a complaint by British firm Foundem in 2009.

- Google has expressed disappointment but claims to have made compliance changes since 2017.

- The ruling may lead to additional legal challenges for Google from affected parties.

- Google faces ongoing antitrust scrutiny from both the EU and U.S. regulators.