Latest news with #EuropeanCourtofJustice
Time of India
15 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Google suffers setback as EU legal opinion backs record fine
Luxembourg: Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice on Thursday, when the body's adviser recommended upholding a record fine imposed on the company for anti-competitive practices . The US tech giant has been trying to overturn on appeal a 4.3-billion-euro ($4.9 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2018, which was later reduced to 4.1 billion euros. But in its opinion, Juliane Kokott, advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), said "the legal arguments put forward by Google are ineffective", the court later said in a statement. Although not binding, such advice carries weight and is often followed by EU judges in their rulings. The commission, the EU's antitrust regulator, had accused Google of abusing the popularity of its Android operating system to restrict competition. It alleged Google pressured phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser -- essentially shutting out rivals. The findings were upheld in 2022 by the European Union's second-highest court, which slightly reduced the fine. The levy remains the EU's biggest ever. Arguing that the commission's case was unfounded and that the sanction penalised innovation, Google appealed to the EU's top court. The company had also pushed the case that the EU was unfairly blind to Apple, which gives preference to its own services, such as Safari on iPhones. Thursday's advice will guide the EUCJ in its decision. The court has the final say on the matter. "Google held a dominant position in several markets of the Android-ecosystem and thus benefited from network effects that enabled it to ensure that users used Google Search," the court said, detailing Kokott's opinion. "As a result, Google obtained access to data that enabled it in turn to improve its service. No hypothetical as-efficient competitor could have found itself in such a situation," the statement read. As part of a major push to target big tech abuses, the EU slapped Google with fines worth a total of 8.2 billion euros between 2017 and 2019 over antitrust violations. This set off a series of long-running legal battles. Brussels has since armed itself with a more powerful legal weapon known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), to rein in tech giants. Rather than regulators discovering egregious antitrust violations after probes lasting many years, the DMA gives businesses a list of what they can and cannot do online. In March, the commission informed Google parent Alphabet that preliminary reviews concluded its search engine and Google Play app store operated in ways that run afoul of the new rules.
The Sun
18 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Google suffers setback as EU legal opinion backs record fine
LUXEMBOURG: Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice on Thursday, when the body's adviser recommended upholding a record fine imposed on the company for anti-competitive practices. The US tech giant has been trying to overturn on appeal a 4.3-billion-euro ($4.9 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2018, which was later reduced to 4.1 billion euros. But in its opinion, Juliane Kokott, advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), said 'the legal arguments put forward by Google are ineffective', the court later said in a statement. Although not binding, such advice carries weight and is often followed by EU judges in their rulings. The commission, the EU's antitrust regulator, had accused Google of abusing the popularity of its Android operating system to restrict competition. It alleged Google pressured phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser -- essentially shutting out rivals. The findings were upheld in 2022 by the European Union's second-highest court, which slightly reduced the fine. The levy remains the EU's biggest ever. Arguing that the commission's case was unfounded and that the sanction penalised innovation, Google appealed to the EU's top court. The company had also pushed the case that the EU was unfairly blind to Apple, which gives preference to its own services, such as Safari on iPhones. Thursday's advice will guide the EUCJ in its decision. The court has the final say on the matter. 'Google held a dominant position in several markets of the Android-ecosystem and thus benefited from network effects that enabled it to ensure that users used Google Search,' the court said, detailing Kokott's opinion. 'As a result, Google obtained access to data that enabled it in turn to improve its service. No hypothetical as-efficient competitor could have found itself in such a situation,' the statement read. As part of a major push to target big tech abuses, the EU slapped Google with fines worth a total of 8.2 billion euros between 2017 and 2019 over antitrust violations. This set off a series of long-running legal battles. Brussels has since armed itself with a more powerful legal weapon known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), to rein in tech giants. Rather than regulators discovering egregious antitrust violations after probes lasting many years, the DMA gives businesses a list of what they can and cannot do online. In March, the commission informed Google parent Alphabet that preliminary reviews concluded its search engine and Google Play app store operated in ways that run afoul of the new rules.
New Straits Times
20 hours ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Google suffers setback as EU legal opinion backs record fine
LUXEMBOURG: Google suffered a legal blow at the European Court of Justice today, when the body's adviser recommended upholding a record fine imposed on the company for anti-competitive practices. The US tech giant has been trying to overturn on appeal a €4.3-billion (RM21 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2018, which was later reduced to €4.1 billion. But in its opinion, Juliane Kokott, advocate general at the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), said "the legal arguments put forward by Google are ineffective", the court later said in a statement. Although not binding, such advice carries weight and is often followed by EU judges in their rulings. The commission, the EU's antitrust regulator, had accused Google of abusing the popularity of its Android operating system to restrict competition. It alleged Google pressured phone makers using Android to pre-install its search engine and Google Chrome browser – essentially shutting out rivals. The findings were upheld in 2022 by the European Union's second-highest court, which slightly reduced the fine. The levy remains the EU's biggest ever. Arguing that the commission's case was unfounded and that the sanction penalised innovation, Google appealed to the EU's top court. The company had also pushed the case that the EU was unfairly blind to Apple, which gives preference to its own services, such as Safari on iPhones. Today's advice will guide the EUCJ in its decision. The court has the final say on the matter. "Google held a dominant position in several markets of the Android-ecosystem and thus benefited from network effects that enabled it to ensure that users used Google Search," the court said, detailing Kokott's opinion. "As a result, Google obtained access to data that enabled it in turn to improve its service. No hypothetical as-efficient competitor could have found itself in such a situation," the statement read. As part of a major push to target big tech abuses, the EU slapped Google with fines worth a total of €8.2 billion between 2017 and 2019 over antitrust violations. This set off a series of long-running legal battles. Brussels has since armed itself with a more powerful legal weapon known as the Digital Markets Act (DMA), to rein in tech giants. Rather than regulators discovering egregious antitrust violations after probes lasting many years, the DMA gives businesses a list of what they can and cannot do online.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Politics
- Irish Examiner
Cyber warfare 'biggest threat' as Europe takes Ireland to court over terror law failures
The Taoiseach has said that 'cyber warfare' is the biggest problem the country faces in cybersecurity. Micheál Martin said the key threats facing Ireland were: cyber security attacks; subsea cable attacks; hybrid attacks; misinformation on social media and terrorist attacks – but added that the risk of them happening was 'low'. His comments come as the European Commission announced it was taking Ireland to the European Court of Justice for failing to comply with EU laws on removing online terrorist content – which it said it warned the Irish Government about in February 2024. The directive obliges online platforms to remove terrorist content 'within an hour' of a removal order by a member state. The commission said Ireland has failed to designate an authority to issue such orders and lay down rules on the legal obligations for online firms and the penalties they face. Speaking in the Dáil, Mr Martin said 'accelerated and increased' investment on security and defence was required given the security challenges Ireland and its partners face. Defence spend Responding to comments from Ruth Coppinger TD that Ireland was going to be spending an 'incredible amount' of money on fighter jets, he said no such money will be spent 'for a long time, for quiet some time'. Tánaiste and minister for defence Simon Harris said last February that he was now 'convinced' that Ireland needs a squadron of fighter jets to police its airspace. Answering questions from deputies on national security, the Taoiseach said he had chaired the first meeting of the new Ministerial Council on National Security on May 21. He said the council, which Mr Harris and minister for justice Jim O'Callaghan are members of, received a 'detailed briefing' on the current security situation from An Garda Síochána and the Defence Forces, as well as cyber threats. Mr Martin said: 'It is clear, in light of the worsened security situation in Europe and significant changes in the nature of the security challenges we and our partners face, that accelerated and increased investment in the State's security and defence services will be required in the coming period.' He said the council also received a detailed report from the National Security Committee, comprising senior civil servants and security agencies, which covered Ukraine, Middle East, Defence Forces investment and cyber capabilities. Mr Martin said Ireland needed to be 'extremely vigilant' in relation to cyberattacks given they will be 'more sophisticated' with the application of AI technologies. "Cyber warfare is the biggest problem we have in cybersecurity," he said. On the national security strategy – promised in 2019 and first due in 2021 - Mr Martin said the national security secretariat in his department 'is now putting together the inputs' from all the relevant departments and agencies. Ireland taken to court Meanwhile, the European Commission has referred Ireland, Portugal and Bulgaria to the European Court of Justice for 'failing to comply' with obligations under EU Regulation on the dissemination of terrorist content online (TCO). It said the regulation, which became applicable in June 2022, requires terrorist content in the EU be taken down by online platforms within an hour of a removal order from a member state. "This helps stop the spread of extremist ideologies online - which is key for preventing attacks and addressing radicalisation - while safeguarding fundamental rights," the commission said. It added: 'Vulnerable users, particularly minors, are being radicalised online at an alarming rate. The [TCO] has been instrumental in countering the spread of terrorist content online, enabling the swift removal of the most heinous and dangerous material.'
Budapest Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Budapest Times
Bakondi: Hungary to file a lawsuit against ECJ over fines
György Bakondi, the prime minister's domestic security advisor, said the Hungarian state will file a lawsuit against the European Court of Justice (ECJ) over the court's ruling to impose a daily 1 million euros fine on Hungary. Bakondi told commercial channel TV2 that the European Union had launched several procedures against Hungary over migrants, including one that resulted in a daily 1 million euros fine. He added that the EU wanted to enable migrants to submit asylum requests in Hungary as against another country, such as Serbia. 'It was a clear call that illegal migrants must be allowed to enter,' he said, adding that the government had no other option but to launch a lawsuit against the court with the help of an international legal firm. He also said that several European countries were currently introducing national solutions to the migrant crisis, citing Italy, Bulgaria, Austria and Spain as examples.
