Google has emerged victorious in a recent legal battle against a 1.49 billion euro ($1.66 billion) antitrust fine imposed by the European Union five years ago. The EU’s General Court overturned the penalty issued by the European Commission, which accused Google of unfair practices in its online advertising business.
The ruling targeted a specific aspect of Google’s ad operations related to placing ads alongside search results on third-party websites. The Commission alleged that Google’s exclusivity clauses in contracts restricted competition from its rivals, resulting in limited choices for advertisers and website owners and potentially higher costs for consumers.
However, the General Court found errors in the Commission’s assessment of these clauses, stating that there was insufficient evidence to prove that Google’s behavior stifled innovation, harmed consumers, or bolstered its dominant position in online search advertising markets.
While the decision can be appealed on legal grounds to the Court of Justice of the European Union, the Commission is reviewing its options following the court’s ruling. Google has not yet commented on the outcome of the case.
This legal triumph for Google comes shortly after the company lost a separate antitrust case involving its shopping comparison service, leading to substantial fines imposed by the EU over the past decade. These penalties signify the increased scrutiny faced by major tech companies in regulatory matters.
Google is currently under scrutiny in both the United States and the United Kingdom over its digital advertising practices. The company is contesting allegations by the US Justice Department that its dominance in internet ad sales constitutes an illegal monopoly, while British competition authorities have accused Google of abusing its market position in the UK’s digital ad industry.
Furthermore, EU antitrust regulators have suggested the possibility of breaking up Google to address competition concerns related to its digital ad business, reflecting the ongoing challenges faced by tech giants in navigating regulatory landscapes on both sides of the Atlantic.
