Key facts
- Europe's top court upheld a €4.1 billion fine against Google.
- The fine is for Google's use of its Android operating system to block competitors.
- Google's appeal against the European Commission's decision has been dismissed.
- The original fine was issued in 2018 and later reduced to €4.1 billion in 2022.
- Allegations included requiring pre-installation of Google Search and Chrome, and preventing alternative Android versions.
Europe's top court has ruled that Google must pay a €4.1 billion fine for leveraging its Android mobile operating system to stifle competition. The ruling dismisses an appeal brought by the tech giant, upholding the European Commission's decision.
The European Commission initially imposed a €4.3 billion fine in 2018, which was later reduced to €4.1 billion in 2022. This represents the largest penalty ever levied by the Commission against Google.
A Google spokesperson stated that the judgment "fails to recognise" the company's "significant investment to ensure Android remains open, interoperable and free." They added that Google had adapted its agreements in 2018 to comply with the initial decision and remains focused on innovation.
When the fine was first announced, allegations included requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome as a condition for Play Store access, making payments for exclusive pre-installation of Google Search, and preventing manufacturers from selling devices with alternative "forked" versions of Android.
Google's chief executive, Sundar Pichai, had previously argued that the decision rejected Android's business model, which he claimed created more choice. This is not the first antitrust action against Google; in September 2025, the company was fined €2.95 billion for favoring its own products in online advertising.