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Google Ordered to Pay €2.4 Billion Fine for Abusing Market Dominance

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Europe’s top court has upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google for abusing its market dominance through its shopping comparison service. The penalty, originally imposed by the European Commission in 2017, marks the conclusion of a long-running legal battle initiated by UK-based Foundem in 2009. The European Court of Justice ruled that Google’s conduct was “discriminatory” and dismissed the tech giant’s appeal in its entirety.

Google expressed disappointment with the decision, noting that it had implemented changes in 2017 to comply with the European Commission’s ruling. Despite these changes, the court’s decision underscores the severity of Google’s actions in monopolizing online price comparison by prioritizing its own shopping recommendations over rivals. The ruling could have broader implications for the company, as additional antitrust cases and compensation claims from affected competitors are pending.

This case adds to Google’s mounting legal challenges in Europe, where the company has been fined a total of €8.2 billion over several cases, including for its use of Android software and advertising practices. The ruling also comes as Google faces a separate antitrust trial in the United States and ongoing investigations by UK regulators over its advertising technology dominance.

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Apple, Meta and Google to be investigated by the EU

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The European Union has initiated investigations into major tech companies such as Meta, Apple, and Alphabet (Google’s parent company) over potential violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) introduced in 2022. If found guilty, these companies could face fines of up to 10% of their annual turnover.

EU antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager and industry head Thierry Breton announced the investigations, focusing on allegations of anti-competitive practices by these tech giants. The DMA, which targets companies considered to be digital gatekeepers, aims to foster fair competition in the digital market.

The investigations are particularly focused on whether these companies are impeding fair competition, such as by limiting app communication with users, restricting user choice, or favoring their own services in search results. For instance, Apple faces scrutiny for its App Store policies, while Meta is being investigated for its advertising practices.

These investigations come shortly after Apple was fined €1.8 billion for competition law violations related to music streaming, and amid a landmark lawsuit in the United States accusing Apple of monopolizing the smartphone market.

Both Apple and Meta have responded, expressing willingness to engage with the investigation and asserting their compliance with the DMA. However, Alphabet has yet to comment on the matter.

The EU aims to complete the investigations within approximately 12 months, with a focus on ensuring open and contestable digital markets in Europe. The timing of these actions, just ahead of European Parliament elections, underscores the EU’s commitment to consumer protection and fair competition in the digital sphere.

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Macron calls on Israel to stop killing Gaza’s women and babies

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In this news article, French President Emmanuel Macron expressed his stance on the conflict in Gaza. He condemned the bombing of civilians in Gaza, stating that there is “no justification” for it, and called for a ceasefire, emphasizing the need to protect civilians. Macron also condemned the actions of Hamas, recognizing it as a terrorist organization, while urging other leaders, including those in the US and the UK, to join his calls for a ceasefire.

On the topic of Ukraine, Macron characterized Russia’s invasion as imperialism and colonialism, emphasizing the duty of his country and others to support Ukraine in its defense. He warned of the potential threat posed by a victorious Russia to other former Soviet states and the entire continent.

Macron also discussed online extremism, singling out Facebook’s parent company Meta and Google for not fulfilling their promises to moderate hate speech on their platforms. He expressed concern about insufficient moderators for French language content on many online platforms.

Regarding climate change, Macron mentioned its role in contributing to terrorism, citing the example of Lake Chad in West Africa, where the effects of global warming led to political instability.

In summary, Macron called for a ceasefire in Gaza, condemned the actions of both Israel and Hamas, expressed support for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion, criticized online platforms for inadequate moderation, and highlighted the link between climate change and terrorism in certain regions.

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Job-search tool of Google being investigated by EU

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The job search tool of Google is being investigated by the European Union as they got several claims, saying the competitors has been driven out of the market.

Margrethe Vestager, the EU competition commissioner has raised a question whether it was fair the Google had “such control over the success or failure” of its rivals.

At the top of searches, the tech giant places a widget, circumventing the need to click through to job sites.

Brussels has been asked by Twenty-three job-search sites, to take necessary action last month.

Google is not charging any fee for this facility now. The competitors fears that this is a plan to gain market share before monetising its business model.

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