European Court Upholds €4.1bn Fine Against Google
Europe's highest court has confirmed that Google must pay a €4.1bn (£3.5bn) fine imposed for using its Android mobile operating system to restrict competition from rival companies.
The European Commission initially imposed a €4.3bn (£3.9bn) fine in 2018, which was later reduced to €4.1bn in 2022. Google’s appeal against this ruling has now been dismissed, solidifying the penalty as the largest ever levied against the company by the Commission.
A Google spokesperson responded to the ruling, stating:
"The judgement fails to recognise our significant investment to ensure Android remains open, interoperable and free."
"In any event, we adapted our agreements to comply with the initial decision back in 2018 and we remain focused on continued innovation and openness for our users, partners and developers."
Details of the Original Allegations
When the fine was first announced in 2018, the European Commission alleged that Google engaged in three specific illegal practices:
- Requiring manufacturers of Android handsets and tablets to pre-install the Google Search app and the Chrome web browser as a condition for access to the Google Play app store.
- Making payments to large manufacturers and mobile network operators that agreed to exclusively pre-install the Google Search app on their devices.
- Preventing manufacturers from selling smart devices running alternative "forked" versions of Android by threatening to withhold permission to pre-install Google apps.
It was noted, however, that Google's version of Android does not restrict device owners from downloading alternative web browsers or using other search engines.
Google's Response and Previous Statements
At the time of the original fine, Google’s chief executive Sundar Pichai commented in a blog post that the decision:
"Rejects the business model that supports Android, which has created more choice for everyone, not less."
Other European Commission Actions Against Google
This ruling is not the first time the European Commission has taken action against Google and its parent company Alphabet.
In September 2024, the Commission ordered Google to pay a €2.4bn (£2bn) fine for abusing its dominance in the shopping-comparison market.
Later, in September 2025, Google was fined €2.95bn (£2.5bn) for breaching competition laws by favoring its own products in online advertising, disadvantaging competitors.
Largest Fines and Other Legal Challenges
Despite the size of the current fine, it is not the largest ever imposed on Google.
In October 2024, a Russian court fined Google an unprecedented amount for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube. The fine was two undecillion roubles, an amount exceeding the total global GDP.
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