Google looks likely to lose appeal against record $4.7 billion EU fine

Google suffered a setback Thursday aft an advisor to the European Union's apical tribunal recommended it disregard the tech giant's entreaty against a grounds 4.1-billion-euro ($4.7 billion) antitrust fine.

Juliane Kokott, advocator wide astatine the European Court of Justice, advised the tribunal to propulsion retired Google's entreaty and corroborate the fine, which was reduced successful 2022 to 4.125 cardinal euros from 4.34 cardinal euros antecedently by the EU's General Court.

"In her Opinion delivered today, Advocate General Kokott proposes that the Court of Justice disregard Google's entreaty and, therefore, uphold the judgement of the General Court," the Luxembourg-based ECJ said successful a property merchandise Thursday.

The good relates to a long-running antitrust lawsuit surrounding Google's Android operating system.

In 2018, the European Commission slapped Google with the record-breaking punishment connected the grounds that it abused Android's mobile dominance to springiness unfair vantage to its ain apps via pre-installation deals with smartphone makers. The Commission is the enforcement assemblage of the EU.

Google was not instantly disposable for remark erstwhile contacted by CNBC Thursday. The institution has previously called connected the courts to void the EU fine on the ground that Android "has created much prime for everyone, not less."

Though the advocator general's connection is non-binding, judges thin to travel 4 retired of 5 specified non-binding opinions. The ECJ is expected to present a last ruling successful the coming months.