What's happened
Google is embroiled in multiple antitrust cases in the EU and US, with recent court rulings impacting its advertising practices. The EU's General Court annulled a €1.5 billion fine while the US Justice Department seeks to break up Google's ad tech business, alleging monopolistic practices.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to the South China Morning Post, the EU's General Court upheld much of the European Commission's findings but annulled the fine due to procedural errors. The court stated, 'the Commission has also not demonstrated that the clauses in question had... possibly harmed consumers.' Meanwhile, the New York Times highlights the US Justice Department's allegations that Google maintains a monopoly in the ad tech market, with calls for a forced selloff of its advertising business. The DOJ argues that Google's practices have stifled competition, stating, 'Google siphons more than a third of every dollar spent on its ad platforms.' This contrast illustrates the differing approaches regulators are taking in the US and EU, with the EU focusing on fines and the US on structural changes.
How we got here
Google's advertising practices have drawn scrutiny from regulators globally, leading to multiple antitrust investigations. The EU's European Commission previously fined Google for anti-competitive behavior, while the US government has initiated its own legal actions against the tech giant.
Common question
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What are the latest antitrust challenges Google is facing?
Google is currently navigating a complex landscape of antitrust challenges in both the EU and the US. These legal battles could reshape the company's advertising practices and have significant implications for consumers and advertisers alike. Below, we explore the key questions surrounding these antitrust issues.
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Google LLC is an American multinational technology company that specializes in Internet-related services and products, which include online advertising technologies, a search engine, cloud computing, software, and hardware.
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The European Union is a political and economic union of 27 member states that are located primarily in Europe. Its members have a combined area of 4,233,255.3 km² and an estimated total population of about 447 million.
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The United States Department of Justice, also known as the Justice Department, is a federal executive department of the United States government responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice in the United States, and is equivale
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Apple Inc. is an American multinational technology company headquartered in Cupertino, California, that designs, develops, and sells consumer electronics, computer software, and online services.
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Alphabet Inc. is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Mountain View, California. It was created through a restructuring of Google on October 2, 2015, and became the parent company of Google and several former Google subsidiaries.
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Microsoft Corporation is an American multinational technology company with headquarters in Redmond, Washington. It develops, manufactures, licenses, supports, and sells computer software, consumer electronics, personal computers, and related services.
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Margrethe Vestager is a Danish social liberal politician serving in the Von der Leyen Commission as Executive Vice President of the European Commission for A Europe Fit for the Digital Age since 1 December 2019 and European Commissioner for Competition si