Google loses final appeal against record EU antitrust fine

In early July 2026, the European Union's top court ruled against Google, ordering the company to pay a record €4.1 billion (about $4.7 billion) fine. The penalty was originally imposed by the EU in 2018 for antitrust violations related to Google's Android operating system. The court dismissed Google's final appeal, ending a years-long legal battle.

The fine stems from EU regulators' finding that Google abused its market dominance by requiring phone makers to pre-install Google apps and services. Google had argued against the penalty, but the Court of Justice of the European Union upheld the original decision. The ruling is a major victory for EU antitrust enforcement.