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Google loses $2.7 billion antitrust fight in EU after seven years
Back in 2017, courts in the EU slapped Google with an unprecedented multi-billion euro fine over anti-competitive practices. After years of appeals, Google has officially lost in that case.
Expand Expanding CloseEU launches non-compliance investigation into Google Search and Play Store rules
Following up on the Digital Markets Act, the European Union is launching a “non-compliance investigation” into Alphabet, specifically centered around Google Search and specific rules in the Play Store.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle Play details ‘external offers’ program for Android apps in Europe
As part of complying with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google Play is getting an opt-in “external offers” program for Android apps and games across phones, tablets, Wear OS, ChromeOS, and Android TV.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle rolling out Android, Chrome, & Search changes to comply with Europe’s DMA
To comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), Google is making a number of changes to Android, Chrome, and Search.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle will pay $700 million, simplify sideloading to settle Play Store antitrust suit
In 2021, 36 US states and the District of Columbia sued Google over Play Store antitrust concerns. A settlement was reached in September and the terms, including changes to Google Play, have now been revealed.
Expand Expanding CloseThe European Union threatens to break up Google’s ad business
Google’s dominance over the online ad market has been scrutinized time and time again, and this week the European Union is expressing its concerns that Google has breached the EU’s antitrust laws, and that the company should break up its ad business.
Expand Expanding CloseHow Android and Google Play are changing in India following antitrust ruling
Google announced today how Android and the Play Store will change to comply with recent regulatory rulings in India.
Expand Expanding CloseUS DOJ antitrust suit sets out to ‘unwind Google’s monopolistic grip’ on ads
The US Department of Justice, along with eight other states, sued Google today, alleging antitrust practices in digital ads to “unwind Google’s monopolistic grip on the market.”
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EU upholds antitrust ruling against Google’s actions on Android, drops fine to €4.1 billion
In 2018, the European Union ruled that Google’s app bundling with Android, essentially forcing its partners to include a long list of Google apps with their phones, was illegal. Google appealed that ruling, but the EU has just announced that it will uphold the decision, despite lowering the fine.
Expand Expanding CloseEU lawmakers push for all Android phones to to copy the Pixel 6’s five years of updates
While the Android ecosystem as a whole has been getting better about long-term support and the speed of updates, EU lawmakers are now pushing for a set standard for Android updates that just so happens to mirror what Google offers on the Pixel 6.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle offers to split parts of ad business into Alphabet to avoid antitrust lawsuit [U]
The Wall Street Journal is reporting today that Google has “proposed splitting parts of its business that auctions and places ads on websites and apps into a separate company under the Alphabet umbrella.”
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle blasts EU for ignoring Apple as it fights $5 billion fine over Android & Play Store
While the US and other regions are shining more of a spotlight on Google and the Play Store, the EU has already issued a 2018 ruling that imposed Google with a $5 billion fine over anticompetitive practices on Android. Google is fighting that fine, and slamming EU regulators over turning a blind eye to Apple.
Expand Expanding CloseAndroid’s search ‘choice screen’ for Europe will show more options, no longer auction-based
Last year, Google started showing a search engine “choice screen” to those setting up Android devices in Europe following an antitrust ruling. Google is now updating it to include more providers and make “participation free.”
Expand Expanding CloseNow EU regulators are worried about Google’s FLoC initiative, too
As Google tests out its replacement for third-party cookies, the Federated Learning of Cohorts, the company has faced a lot of scrutinies for the initiative. Now, some regulators in the EU are raising concerns about FLoC as well that could spell trouble for the future of Google’s initiative.
Expand Expanding CloseGoogle hit with lawsuit by US Justice Department over search dominance
Following reports and rumors for several weeks, the US Justice Department has officially announced an antitrust lawsuit against Google and its search dominance in the United States. The suit is supported by 11 States.
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[Update: Extended] Google’s Fitbit deal to be investigated by EU through January 2021
Google announced late last year that it planned to purchase Fitbit to bolster its wearable portfolio, but the deal has been under scrutiny from the EU since day one. Several months later, it’s now looking like Google’s Fitbit deal will undergo a full investigation from the European Union.
Expand Expanding CloseJustice Department reportedly rushing Google antitrust case to meet ‘arbitrary’ deadline
According to the New York Times, the US Justice Department is planning to file the federal government’s antitrust case against Google as soon as this month. Today’s report notably reveals a rushed approach that’s criticized for being political.
Expand Expanding CloseEurope wants Google to pledge that Fitbit data won’t ‘further enhance’ Search
At the start of this month, it emerged that Europe could approve the sale of Fitbit if Google pledged not to use data for ads. Last week, Google committed to that, but Europe’s regulators reportedly have new demands concerning Fitbit data and Search.
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Google, Facebook, and Twitter commit to coronavirus misinformation reports per EU request
While other events may have started to overshadow the coronavirus pandemic, the virus is still very much a big deal around the globe. Now, in order with a request from the European Union, US tech giants including Google are going to produce regular reports regarding misinformation online about the coronavirus.
Report: State antitrust lawsuit could push for break up of Google’s advertising business
For the past several months, both the Department of Justice and state attorneys general have been readying antitrust investigations into Google. A new report today says that the US states are looking to break up Google’s ad division.
Justice Department, state investigations into Google ‘likely’ becoming antitrust lawsuits
Last September, federal and state governments announced an antitrust investigation into Google. A new report today says that the US Department of Justice and state attorneys general are likely to proceed with a lawsuit in the coming months.
Google shifting UK user data to US, ditching GDPR protection in the process
GDPR has had a huge effect on how internet services work in the European Union, but following Brexit, Google may make some changes to how UK data is handled. A report from Reuters reveals that Google is preparing to shift data from UK users to be under US jurisdiction.
EU advisors: Google’s Fitbit acquisition has ‘high level of risk’ for privacy
Last year, Google announced that it had plans to acquire the popular wearable maker Fitbit, something that’s raised both hope and concern from users. This week, the European Data Protection Board is raising flags regarding Google’s Fitbit acquisition, calling it a privacy risk.
Google Search removing news ‘snippets’ in France following EU Copyright Directive
