Billion-Euro Google Fine Remains on the Table: ECJ Advocate General's Verdict
Advocate General Proposes Imposing Multi-Billion Dollar Penalty on Google
In the ongoing court battle over Google's Android-related antitrust practices, the Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) recently weighed in, offering a non-binding yet influential opinion. Juliane Kokott, the research counselor, suggested that the ECJ should dismiss Google's appeal against the €4.12 billion fine—a decision that would strengthen the European Commission's antitrust findings.
The fine is a repercussion of the 2018 decision by the European Commission, which accused Google of abusing its market position by imposing illegal restrictions on mobile device manufacturers and network operators. By requiring these companies to pre-install Google apps like Search and Chrome to gain access to the Google Play store, Google limited competition and stifled consumer choice within the EU market.
Google, however, appealed the penalty, arguing that it undermines investments in open platforms and harms Android users, partners, and app developers. But, as of June 2025, the lower EU court has upheld the fine, albeit slightly reduced from the original €4.34 billion to €4.12 billion. And now, the ECJ is poised to decide whether to maintain the reduced fine.
The Advocate General's opinion, though not legally binding, holds considerable weight in shaping the ECJ's final decision. Historically, the ECJ tends to align with the Advocate General's recommendation. If the ECJ follows this trend, the billion-euro fine against Google may become a reality, penalizing the tech giant for abusing its market dominance with Android-related contracts and practices.
This ongoing court case (Case C-738/22 P) will play a significant role in setting a precedent for digital competition in the EU. Google risks losing its appeal and paying the €4.12 billion fine, underscoring the potential risks and consequences of misusing market power in the digital age.
- Key Insights:
- As of June 2025, the billion-euro fine against Google is under review by the ECJ, with the Advocate General recommending the fine's upholding.
- The fine originated from a 2018 European Commission decision that found Google had abused its dominant position within the Android ecosystem. Google's appeal of the fine has been ongoing since 2018.
- In June 2025, the ECJ's Advocate General recommended that the ECJ dismiss Google's appeal, noting that Google had leveraged its dominant position to unfairly benefit from its search engine and collect user data, thereby stifling competition.
- The final ECJ ruling is likely to maintain Google's €4.12 billion fine, an outcome that could set a significant precedent for digital competition within the EU.
The ECJ is currently reviewing a billion-euro fine against Google, which originated from a 2018 decision by the European Commission due to Google's abuse of its market dominance within the Android ecosystem. This review follows the Advocate General's recommendation to dismiss Google's appeal, citing Google's exploitation of its dominant position to unfairly benefit from its search engine and collect user data, thereby stifling competition. The outcome of this case, under business and finance regulations, could set a crucial precedent for digital competition in the EU, influencing both community and employment policies within the industry.
