MKThe European Commission initially imposed a fine of €4.3 billion on Google in 2018 for anti-competitive practices related to Android devices, but this was reduced to €4.1 billion in 2022 after Google appealed. The court rejected Google's appeal, making this the largest monetary penalty ever issued by the European Commission against the company. The commission found that Google violated competition rules by requiring manufacturers of Android smartphones and tablets to pre-install Google Search and Chrome apps as a condition for accessing the Google Play Store, paying major device makers and mobile operators exclusively to pre-install Google Search, and threatening manufacturers who sold devices with alternative versions of Android. Google responded by stating that the ruling does not recognize the company's significant investments in keeping Android open, interoperable, and free. This is not the first time the European Commission has fined Google—additional penalties were confirmed in September 2024 for €2.4 billion and in September 2025 for €2.95 billion over different anti-competitive behaviors. However, the largest fine ever imposed on Google came from a Russian court in October
Bias read (Center): The article presents the legal proceedings and decisions made by regulatory bodies regarding Google's anti-competitive behavior. It includes statements from both the European Commission and Google, providing a balanced view of the situation without overtly favoring either side.
