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ARTICLE · 18 JULY 2018

Google Facing New European Commission Fine

Mishcon de Reya LLP
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The European Commission is likely to issue its decision and impose a fine on Google next week for abusing its dominant position in the market in relation to the Android operating system. Although not...

United KingdomAntitrust/Competition Law
Audrey Dwyer
Audrey Dwyer

The European Commission is likely to issue its decision and impose a fine on Google next week for abusing its dominant position in the market in relation to the Android operating system. Although not yet announced, any fine imposed may be as much as US$11 billion, as the Commission can impose a fine as large as 10% of Google's parent company Alphabet's global turnover.

Google has been firmly in the Commission's sights for the last eight years, with three investigations initiated against the company during that period. The Commission first targeted Google with an investigation into comparison shopping.  That investigation concluded in 2017 with a €2.4 billion fine against Google, when the Commission determined that Google was unfairly directing consumers away from other online stores, and towards Google-favoured retailers. The Commission is also investigating Google regarding whether the company unfairly banned competitors from websites that used its search bar and

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