Rules are rules, even for Google

"Today is a good day for competition in digital markets. This verdict sends a clear signal that even ‘Big Tech’ companies cannot do as they please in digital markets. Rules are rules, even for Google”, said Markus Ferber MEP, EPP Group Spokesman on Economic Affairs, as the EU’s General Court confirmed this morning a Commission decision fining Google €2.42bn for abusing its dominant market position in search by favouring its comparison shopping service (Google Shopping) over its competitors.

“However, the case still highlights some of the shortcomings of EU competition law. Since the case started in 2014, many of Google’s competitors have vanished from the market. Going forward, we need a legal basis that is watertight and allows for much swifter action to fight the abuses by ‘Big Tech’", said Ferber.