In a dramatic turn for Big Tech’s battle in Europe, Google has suffered a crushing setback in its attempt to overturn a historic €4.1 billion ($4.7 billion) antitrust fine, after a top legal adviser to the European Court of Justice recommended dismissing the appeal outright. The case revolves around Google’s alleged abuse of its dominant Android operating system to cement its grip on the mobile internet.
A Nonbinding But Powerful Strike
On Thursday, Advocate General Juliane Kokott delivered a nonbinding—but highly influential—opinion that supports the European Commission’s 2018 decision, which found Google guilty of engaging in anti-competitive practices. These included forcing smartphone manufacturers to pre-install its apps—like Google Search and Chrome—and setting them as default, thereby crowding out competitors and curbing consumer choice.
In the high-stakes legal saga, Kokott concluded that Google failed to provide sound legal grounds for the fine to be overturned. “None of the arguments put forward by Google are effective,” Kokott said bluntly, striking at the heart of the tech titan’s multi-year legal battle.
