Google Faces Setback as EU Legal Opinion Upholds €2.4 Billion Fine

 Google suffered a major legal setback on Tuesday, June 17, when an advocate general at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued an opinion upholding a €2.4 billion ($2.7 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2017. The fine, the largest ever levied by the EU at the time, was for Google’s abuse of its search engine dominance to favour its shopping service, stifling competition.

Advocate General Juliane Kokott’s non-binding opinion, published on the ECJ’s website, rejected Google’s appeal, affirming the Commission’s finding that Google manipulated search results to prioritize its Google Shopping platform over rival price-comparison services. “Google’s conduct deliberately distorted competition in a market critical to consumers,” Kokott wrote. The ECJ’s final ruling, expected by September 2025, typically aligns with advocate general opinions, per Reuters.

The decision bolsters the EU’s antitrust crackdown on Big Tech, with Google facing additional fines totaling €8.2 billion since 2017. Google’s general counsel, Kent Walker, called the opinion “disappointing,” arguing it ignores user preferences. OThe case sets a precedent for ongoing probes into Google’s ad tech and AI practices, signaling tougher regulatory scrutiny ahead.