The fine represents the regulator’s largest ever against a company accused of distorting the market. In addition Google must cease its anti-competitive practices within 90 days or face a further penalty and forced to make payments of 5 per cent of its parent company Alphabet's average daily worldwide earnings – or some $14 million every day.
Illegal
‘What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust rules,’ explained Margrethe Vestager, the European Union's Competition Commissioner. ‘It has denied other companies the chance to compete on their merits and to innovate, and most importantly it has denied European consumers the benefits of competition, genuine choice and innovation.’
Precedent for other Google marketing complaints
She had potentially further bad news for Google pointing out that the decision could now set a precedent as to how she handles related complaints about the prominence Google gives to its own maps, flight price results and local business listings within its search tools.
'Respectfully disagree'
A Google statement in response to the ruling said: ‘We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today. We will review the Commission's decision in detail as we consider an appeal, and we look forward to continuing to make our case.’
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