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Europe's top court upholds €4.1 billion fine against Google over Android practices
Europe's highest court confirmed a €4.1 billion penalty on Google for requiring phone makers to pre-install its apps and blocking alternative Android versions. The ruling ends Google's appeal of a 2018 European Commission decision that was later reduced from €4.3 billion.
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Europe's top court has upheld a €4.1 billion fine against Google for practices tied to its Android operating system. The decision makes the penalty legally binding after the company lost its appeal. The European Commission originally imposed a €4.3 billion fine in 2018.
Officials later reduced the amount to €4.1 billion in 2022. The court rejected Google's challenge in case C-738/22 P Google and Alphabet v Commission.
Background of the case The commission said Google required manufacturers to pre-install its Search app and Chrome browser to gain access to the Play app store. It also said the company paid operators to pre-install Search exclusively and blocked devices running alternative Android versions.
" The spokesperson added that the company adapted its agreements in 2018 and remains focused on innovation. Google's version of Android does not prevent users from installing other browsers or search engines.
In September 2024 it imposed a €2.4 billion penalty over the company's shopping service. In September 2025 it levied a €2.95 billion fine related to online advertising practices. A separate Russian court ordered a fine exceeding two undecillion roubles in October 2024 for restricting Russian state media channels on YouTube.
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