A German court has ruled against Google in an antitrust case, ordering the tech giant to pay €572 million in damages. The lawsuit alleges Google abused its market dominance in the price comparison sector, harming two German companies. The ruling highlights ongoing scrutiny of big tech's practices in Europe.
The case stems from a European Commission investigation that penalised Google in 2017 for favouring its own Google Shopping service. Competitors argued that Google's search results unfairly prioritised its own comparison services, disadvantaging rival platforms. The German court's decision reinforces the EU's stance on ensuring fair competition in digital markets.
The damages are to be paid to Idealo (€374 million plus €91 million in interest) and Producto GmbH (€89.7 million plus €17.7 million in interest). This ruling could have broader implications for Google and other tech companies facing similar antitrust challenges in Europe and beyond.
