eCommerce: Shopping
Google Loses Appeal on EU Fine for Hurting Online Shopping Competitors
The EU's top court ruled against Google's attempt to overturn a fine for unfairly promoting its own shopping service, dealing another blow to the tech giant.
Article by Patrick Nowak | September 11, 2024Google Loses Appeal on EU Fine: Key Insights
Court Ruling: Google lost its appeal against a $2.7 billion fine from the EU for unfairly favoring its own shopping service.
EU's Stand: The ruling reinforces that Google abused its dominant position, limiting choice for users.
Global Impact: This is part of Google’s broader legal challenges, with over $8 billion in EU fines and additional cases in the U.S. targeting its business practices.
Google’s appeal to overturn a $2.7 billion fine imposed by the European Union was rejected by the EU's top court. The European Commission had originally fined the company in 2017 for unfairly prioritizing its own "comparison shopping service" in search results, hurting smaller competitors. The EU Court of Justice ruled that the fine was justified, saying Google abused its dominant position in online search.
A Win for Competition
EU competition chief Margrethe Vestager, who has led multiple cases against Google, called the ruling a "big win for digital fairness. It confirms that Google favored its own comparison shopping service and actively limited choice for European users,” Vestager said.
Ongoing Legal Troubles for Google
This is just one of several fines against Google. The company has faced over $8 billion in penalties from the EU for antitrust violations. In 2022, Google lost another appeal of a $4 billion fine related to its Android operating system. In 2019, the company was also fined $1.69 billion for blocking competitors in online advertising.
Valuable Insights: Our data-driven rankings are regularly refreshed to provide you with crucial insights for your business. Find out which stores and companies are performing will in the eCommerce space and which categories are topping the sales charts. Stay ahead of the market with our rankings for companies, stores, and marketplaces.
Google: U.S. Legal Battles
Google’s legal problems are not limited to Europe. In the U.S., a federal court recently ruled that the company operates an illegal monopoly in online search. Another ongoing trial may result in the breakup of parts of Google’s business, including its digital advertising division.
Google is yet to comment on the EU court's decision.
Click here for
more relevant insights from
our partner Mastercard.
Related insights
Deep Dive
Cross-Border eCommerce in the United States: Marketplace GMV and Top Markets
Cross-Border eCommerce in the United States: Marketplace GMV and Top Markets
Deep Dive
EHI & ECDB: Top Three Marketplaces in the German eCommerce Market
EHI & ECDB: Top Three Marketplaces in the German eCommerce Market
Deep Dive
eCommerce in Indonesia: Revenues Projected to Cross US$100 Billion in 2025
eCommerce in Indonesia: Revenues Projected to Cross US$100 Billion in 2025
Deep Dive
Online Ticketing 2024: Event Pricing, Market Size, & Trends
Online Ticketing 2024: Event Pricing, Market Size, & Trends
Deep Dive
Online Shopping Habits in Germany: Consumers Buy More During the Week
Online Shopping Habits in Germany: Consumers Buy More During the Week
Back to main topics