Google files an appeal against competition fine of 4.3 billion euros

Google has appealed against a €4.3 billion fine imposed on it by the European Commission in July for antitrust violations. According to the Commission, Google is abusing its dominant position with its Android operating system.

The search giant said in an email that it had appealed against the Commission’s decision, Reuters news agency reported. When the fine was announced, Google had already announced that it wanted to appeal. In the email, Google would have referred to arguments that it has presented before, namely that with Android it would have created more choice for consumers instead of less.

The European Commission has accused Google of three violations: pre-installing Search and the Chrome browser on Android devices, inciting manufacturers to install Search and actively thwarting Android forks by other parties. This made less competition possible, the Commission reasoned. The conduct is said to have occurred since 2011. The fine of 4.3 billion euros is the highest imposed by the Commission to date.

A year ago, Google also appealed another EU fine, worth €2.42 billion, for favoring its own price comparator.