Google Ordered To Pay $665 Million For Anticompetitive Practices In Germany

Google whitethorn person to fork complete 572 cardinal euros, aliases astir $665 million, to 2 German companies for "market abuse," according to a caller ruling from a Berlin court. First reported by Reuters, nan tech elephantine was ordered to salary astir 465 cardinal euros, aliases astir $540 million, to Idealo and different 107 cardinal euros, aliases astir $124 million, to Producto, some of which are value comparison platforms based successful Germany. According to nan ruling, Google abused its ascendant marketplace position by favoring Google Shopping successful its ain hunt results.

Idealo pursued ineligible action against Google, claiming that nan Alphabet subsidiary was "self-preferencing" its ain platforms, which led to unfair marketplace advantages that hindered competitors. The institution first demanded astatine slightest 3.3 cardinal euros, aliases much than $3.8 billion, successful damages successful February 2025. To counter, Google said it made changes successful 2017 that allowed competing shopping platforms nan aforesaid opportunity arsenic Google Shopping to show ads done Google Search.

Idealo said successful a property merchandise that it will proceed nan ineligible unit connected Google, claiming that "the magnitude awarded reflects only a fraction of nan existent damage." Albrecht von Sonntag, co-founder and personnel of Idealo's advisory board, added successful a property merchandise that "abuse of power must person consequences and must not beryllium a profitable business exemplary that pays disconnected contempt fines and damages."

It's not nan first clip Google has recovered itself successful ineligible problem successful Europe. Beyond Google Shopping, Google was accused of favoring its ain Google Flights and Google Hotels successful hunt results, starring nan European Union to threaten monolithic fines for violating its Digital Markets Act. A period prior, nan European Commission fined Google astir 3 cardinal euros, aliases much than $3.4 billion, for its anticompetitive practices successful nan advertizing tech industry.