Google Responds: Disappointment and Warnings
A Google spokesperson responded , expressing disappointment:
“Android has created more choice for everyone and supports thousands of successful businesses in Europe and around the world.”
The company warned that upholding the fine could “discourage investment in open platforms” and damage the Android ecosystem, affecting users, developers, and partners alike.
Storm Clouds in the U.K.
This isn’t the only legal cloud hanging over Google’s empire. In the U.K., the Competition Appeal Tribunal has greenlit a £7 billion ($9.4 billion) class action alleging that Google stifled competition by securing an exclusive deal with Apple to dominate search results on iPhones.
Moreover, a coalition of British businesses launched a separate £5 billion lawsuit, claiming the tech firm manipulated its search engine to overcharge them for placement—another potential billion-dollar bruising.
As Google faces intensifying scrutiny on both sides of the Atlantic, this latest blow in Europe could set a precedent with ripple effects that challenge the very foundation of its mobile strategy.
