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EU fines Google $5B in Android antitrust case

EPA-EFE / OLIVIER HOSLET

European Commissioner for Competition Margrethe Vestager (pictured) announced on Wednesday that the European Commision imposed a fine of €4.34 ($5 billion) on Alphabet-owned Google in a landmark antitrust case involving tech giant's alleged abuse of its Android operating system. The penalty marks the highest such measure ever ordered by the European Union, topping the bloc's €2.4 billion antitrust penalty against Google just over a year ago.

Vestager pointed out that Google engaged in "three types of illegal restrictions on the use of Android," which enabled the company to "cement" the dominance of its search engine. "Denying rivals a chance to innovate and compete on the merits. It’s illegal under EU antitrust rules. @Google now has to stop it," the commissioner wrote on Twitter. However, she added that Google now has 90 days to make amends or the company will incur penalty payments.

EU's anti-trust investigation into possible abuse of Android operating system, which runs more than 80% of the world’s smartphones, began two years ago and revolved around the tech giant's contracts that require manufacturers of Android phones to take Google’s search and browser apps and other Google services when they want to license the Play app store.

Breaking the News / FH