Google ordered to pay $665 million for anticompetitive practices in Germany

Google might must fork over 572 million euros, or almost $665 million, to 2 German firms for “market abuse,” in line with a latest ruling from a Berlin court docket. First reported by Reuters, the tech large was ordered to pay roughly 465 million euros, or roughly $540 million, to Idealo and one other 107 million euros, or roughly $124 million, to Producto, each of that are value comparability platforms primarily based in Germany. In keeping with the ruling, Google abused its dominant market place by favoring Google Purchasing in its personal search outcomes.

Idealo pursued authorized motion towards Google, claiming that the Alphabet subsidiary was “self-preferencing” its personal platforms, which led to unfair market benefits that hindered opponents. The corporate first demanded at the least 3.3 billion euros, or greater than $3.8 billion, in damages in February 2025. To counter, Google stated it made modifications in 2017 that allowed competing purchasing platforms the identical alternative as Google Purchasing to show adverts via Google Search.

Idealo stated in a press launch that it’s going to proceed the authorized strain on Google, claiming that “the quantity awarded displays solely a fraction of the particular harm.” Albrecht von Sonntag, co-founder and member of Idealo’s advisory board, added in a press launch that “abuse of dominance should have penalties and should not be a worthwhile enterprise mannequin that pays off regardless of fines and damages.”

It is not the primary time Google has discovered itself in authorized hassle in Europe. Past Google Purchasing, Google was accused of favoring its personal Google Flights and Google Motels in search outcomes, main the European Union to threaten massive fines for violating its Digital Markets Act. A month prior, the European Fee fined Google almost 3 billion euros, or greater than $3.4 billion, for its anticompetitive practices within the promoting tech business.