Google Overturns €1.5 Billion EU Antitrust Fine in Digital Ad Case

Associated Press
September 18, 2024 | 3:32 pm
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FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2018 file photo, a woman walks past the logo for Google at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Google is dropping plans to eliminate cookies from its Chrome web browser, making a sudden U-turn on four years of work to phase out the technology that tracks users for ad purposes. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)
FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2018 file photo, a woman walks past the logo for Google at the China International Import Expo in Shanghai. Google is dropping plans to eliminate cookies from its Chrome web browser, making a sudden U-turn on four years of work to phase out the technology that tracks users for ad purposes. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan, File)

London. Google successfully overturned a €1.49 billion European Union antitrust fine on Wednesday, which was imposed five years ago over its online advertising business.

The EU's General Court annulled the 2019 fine issued by the European Commission, the EU's top antitrust regulator. "The General Court annuls the Commission's decision in its entirety," the court said in a statement.

The penalty related to a specific part of Google's ad business, involving ads placed next to Google search results on third-party websites. Regulators had accused Google of including exclusivity clauses in contracts that prevented these websites from displaying ads from rival companies. The commission argued this limited choice for advertisers and website owners, potentially leading to higher costs for consumers.

Google Faces New Antitrust Trial Over Ad Tech Monopoly

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However, the General Court ruled that the commission made errors in assessing these clauses and failed to prove that Google's contracts stifled innovation, harmed consumers, or strengthened its dominance in online search advertising.

The ruling can be appealed to the Court of Justice, the EU's highest court, but only on legal grounds.

Google and Apple Face Heavy Fines and Setbacks in EU Court Rulings

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