Google faces setback on EU fine as court adviser sides with regulators

Google faced a big setback Thursday in its attempt to overturn a multibillion-dollar European Union antitrust penalty involving Android after a top court’s legal adviser sided with regulators.The European Court of Justice’s advocate general, Juliane Kokott, recommended in a non-binding opinion that Google’s appeal against the fine worth more than four billion euros (US$4.7 billion) should be dismissed.The case dates back to 2018, when the EU’s executive Commission slapped Google with a 4.134 billion euro fine after finding that the U.S. tech company used the dominance of its mobile Android operating system to throttle competition and reduce consumer choice.After Google filed an initial appeal, a lower court trimmed the penalty to 4.125 billion euros in 2022, which the company also appealed to the Court of Justice.Get daily National newsGet the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.Sign up for daily National newsletterSign UpBy providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.Kokott advised that the Court of Justice confirm the fine and uphold the lower court’s judgment, according to a press release summarizing her opinion.Story continues below advertisement 1:25Google could face Justice Department antitrust probeTrending NowArmed guards, no biking and exit strategies: Jagmeet Singh’s life under RCMP protectionU.S. expected to change daily alcohol intake guidelines: sourcesGoogle said it was disappointed with the opinion, adding that if the court follows it, it “would discourage investment in open platforms and harm Android users, partners and app developers.”″Android has created more choice for everyone and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world,” the company said in a statement.Opinions from the advocate general aren’t legally binding but are often followed by judges.The judges “are now beginning their deliberations in this case. Judgment will be given at a later date,” the court said.The fine was one of three antitrust penalties totaling more than 8 billion euros that the European Commission slapped on Google in the last decade, as the 27-nation bloc launched its crackdown on Big Tech companies.Story continues below advertisementGoogle still faces a decision from Brussels in an antitrust case targeting its digital ad business.More on Science and TechMore videosG7 leaders agree on AI adoption, critical minerals, but not Ukraine23AndMe had ‘inadequate’ security before ‘profoundly damaging’ hack: probeMiami zoo tortoise turns 135 and celebrates his first Father’s DayU.S. weather presenter’s coverage of Canadian wildfires has intensifiedTech Talk: F1 AI and Trump family launches mobile service23andMe fined $4M+ for genetic data breach23andMe lacked strong data protection allowing for breach: Canada’s privacy headU.K. fines 23andMe over ‘profoundly damaging’ data breach