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EU Advocate General Recommends Upholding €4.124 Billion Android Antitrust Fine Against Google

Her recommendation highlights that Google’s licensing terms compelled manufacturers to bundle its core apps, entrenching its dominance in the smartphone search market

Overview

  • Generalanwältin Juliane Kokott advised the European Court of Justice to reject Google’s appeal and confirm the €4.124 billion penalty for abusing its Android market position.
  • The original €4.343 billion fine was imposed by the EU Commission in 2018 and later reduced to €4.124 billion by the EU General Court in 2022.
  • Brussels found that Google required phone makers to preinstall Google Search and Chrome as a condition for Play Store access, stifling rival services.
  • Google adjusted its Android agreements after the 2018 ruling but has continued to contest the antitrust sanction at the EU’s highest court.
  • A final ECJ verdict is pending and could set a powerful precedent for future EU enforcement against tech-platform market abuses.