A top European court penalized Google (GOOGL) 4.125 billion euros ($4.13 billion) on Wednesday for manipulating its Android mobile operating system to impede competitors, dealing one of the heaviest blows to the company’s reputation and setting a precedent for other regulators to step up their scrutiny.Information Guide Nigeria
The division of US internet giant Alphabet had appealed a previous verdict, but the decision was mostly confirmed by Europe’s second-highest court on Wednesday, and the fine was only slightly decreased from 4.34 billion euros ($4.34 billion).
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This is the second court defeat for Google which lost its challenge to a 2.42 billion euro ($2.42 billion) fine last year, the first of a trio of cases.
“The General Court largely confirms the Commission’s decision that Google imposed unlawful restrictions on manufacturers of Android mobile devices and mobile network operators in order to consolidate the dominant position of its search engine,” the court said.
“In order better to reflect the gravity and duration of the infringement, the General Court considers it appropriate however to impose a fine of 4.125 billion euros on Google, its reasoning differing in certain respects from that of the Commission,” judges said.
Google, which can appeal on matters of law to the EU Court of Justice, Europe’s highest, voiced its disappointment.
“We are disappointed that the Court did not annul the decision in full. Android has created more choice for everyone, not less, and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world,” a spokesperson said.JAMB Result
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