Alphabet's Google has lost its final appeal against a record €4.1 billion ($4.7 billion) EU antitrust fine after Europe's top court upheld the penalty. The European Court of Justice's ruling on Thursday brings a definitive end to the years-long legal battle.
The case, originally brought by the European Commission in 2018, centered on the dominance of Google's Android mobile operating system. Regulators found that Google abused its market position by illegally requiring phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and the Chrome browser, thereby stifling competition.
This landmark decision is a major victory for EU antitrust regulators and confirms the penalty imposed for abusing its dominant position. The fine was originally set at €4.34 billion and was slightly reduced to €4.1 billion by a lower court in 2022.