Google set to appeal record £3.9bn EU fine

Tech giant hit with second huge fine in two years

Google will appeal a record €4.3bn EU fine for "imposing illegal restrictions" on Android smartphone manufacturers to pre-install Google Chrome and Search apps.

The European Commission claims that, since 2011, Google has made it a requirement for smartphone makers using Android to pre-install Google search engines on devices to obtain licences for Google Play Store.

Google was also found to have made payments to manufacturers and network operators to exclusively pre-install the Google Search app on their devices.

"Today, mobile internet makes up more than half of global internet traffic. It has changed the lives of millions of Europeans. Our case is about three types of restrictions that Google has imposed on Android device manufacturers and network operators to ensure that traffic on Android devices goes to the Google search engine.

"In this way, Google has used Android as a vehicle to cement the dominance of its search engine. These practices have denied rivals the chance to innovate and compete on the merits. They have denied European consumers the benefits of effective competition in the important mobile sphere. This is illegal under EU antitrust rules," said commissioner Margrethe Vestager.

The tech giant was also found to have prevented device manufacturers from using any alternative version of the Android app that is not approved by Google.

Google must bring its conduct in line with EU antitrust rules within 90 days, or it will face fines worth five per cent of the daily worldwide turnover of its parent Alphabet Group.

However, Google Europe soon announced on Twitter that it will appeal the Commission's decision. The firm also posted a video claiming that users can remove the pre-loaded Google app from devices in as little as 30 seconds.

"Android has created more choice for everyone, not less. A vibrant ecosystem, rapid innovation and lower prices are classic hallmarks of robust competition. We will appeal the Commission's decision," the tweet reads.

This is not the first time the US firm has landed a multibillion-euro fine with the EU. Last June, Google was slapped with a €2.4bn fine for promoting its own shopping comparison service to the top of its search results, while demoting competitors.