BRUSSELS — The European Union's top court upheld a record 4.1 billion euro ($4.5 billion) antitrust fine against Google on Thursday, dismissing the U.S. tech giant's appeal over its practices tied to the Android mobile operating system.
The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the European Commission was correct to sanction Google for abusing its dominant position in the market for Android devices, according to reports from multiple news outlets citing the judgment.
The fine, originally imposed by the Commission in 2018, remains the EU's largest-ever antitrust penalty. It stems from allegations that Google imposed illegal restrictions on smartphone makers, requiring them to pre-install its search engine, Chrome browser and Play Store app while blocking rival versions of Android.
Google had appealed a 2022 General Court decision that largely upheld the Commission's findings and the penalty amount, which was slightly adjusted to around 4.1 billion euros. The Luxembourg-based top court rejected the appeal, confirming the earlier rulings.
The decision marks the final legal hurdle for this long-running case, which dates back to the Commission's 2018 probe into Google's mobile ecosystem. Google has previously argued that its practices benefited consumers and innovation, but EU judges found the company violated competition rules.
Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, has not yet issued an official statement on the ruling as of Thursday afternoon. The company could still face additional payment obligations, including interest, though details on enforcement timelines remain unclear.
The case is one of several major EU antitrust actions against Google in recent years. The ruling underscores the bloc's continued scrutiny of Big Tech dominance in digital markets.
Further details on Google's next steps, including any potential payment schedule or additional remedies, were not immediately available.
