Google is going to pay billions for forcing these apps on your phone
The case dates way back to 2018, when the European Commission found that Google had abused the Android platform to give its own apps an unfair advantage.
Chrome is one of the apps that come pre-installed on many Android phones. | Image by PhoneArena
Remember the big antitrust lawsuit against Google from years back? Probably not, and I kind of forgot about it too, until the recent development. After the latest European Court of Justice ruling, Google is finally going to pay a huge amount of money, and it's basically for forcing its own apps on your phone.
Google is going to pay $4.67 billion after the European Court of Justice's final ruling
Google lost the final appeal in one of the biggest antithrust cases in the past couple of years. | Image by PhoneArena
The case dates way back to 2018, when the European Commission found that Google had abused the Android platform to give its own apps an unfair advantage. The initial fine was even bigger — 4.34 billion euro ($4.94 billion), but after several appeals, the court reduced the fine to 4.1 billion euro ($4.67 billion) in 2022.
The Court of Justice dismisses the appeal brought by Google and Alphabet against that judgment of the General Court, thereby confirming the penalty imposed on them, as revised by the General Court, for their anticompetitive practices relating to the Android operating system
- European Court of Justice in a press release
Now CNBC reports that the European Court of Justice has dismissed Google’s latest appeal. Given the court is the highest legal instance in the European Union, there will be no more appeals, and Google will have to pay the fine.
What Android browser do you use on your smartphone?
Forcing Google Search, Chrome, and other apps on Android phones
Google had agreements with smartphone companies using Android to push its own preinstalled apps. | Image by Tech Tips Daily
The core of the case deals with how Google distributed its apps among Android phone makers. Google supplies the core Android software to many smartphone brands and has specific agreements in place with those manufacturers.
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The European Commission found that Google used those agreements to push its own apps and services, such as Google Search, Chrome, Gmail, and many others, through pre-installation requirements.
To put it simply, Google supplied Android to other companies only if the OS came with its own apps and services preinstalled. This made it much harder for other similar apps to compete and created a kind of a monopoly.
People, who are not that tech-savvy in most cases stay with the pre-installed apps, and they're not the best out there by any stretch of the imagination. Chrome just eats RAM for breakfast, for example.
Google fought this one hard but lost in the end
After eight long years in court the case is finally settled. | Image by PixaBay
Throughout the whole lawsuit Google argued that Android is actually giving people and developers complete freedom and more choice. But the company had to adapt the aforementioned agreements with Android client companies, and you might've noticed it if you set up a new phone lately.
Android provides more choice for everyone and supports thousands of businesses. This judgment fails to recognize our significant investment to ensure Android remains open, interoperable, and free
- Google spokesperson in a statement to CNBC
Android now specifically asks people which search engine and browser they want to use as default on their phones. Google found the ruling unfavorable and pointed out that the company has made significant investment in its Android operating system and supports thousands of businesses.
It sounds like the "grapes are sour" as the fable goes. There are currently over 3.9 billion active Android users worldwide. Operating on more than 70% of all smartphones globally, Android is huge compared to iOS, which sits at roughly 28%. Abusing this power to give further advantage to other apps and services is just not right.
Speaking of big numbers, this $4.67 billion fine might sound like a huge deal, but the scale Google operates is much larger.
What does this ruling mean for you and me?
Android users will have more choice from the get go. | Image by ZDNet
Google's parent company Alphabet posted a record revenue of more than $400 billion in 2025, so the financial hit for the company will be minuscule. What's more important is that the case is finally settled and there's a precedent.
The decision itself is particularly important in so far as it represents the end of what might be termed the European Commission’s ‘first stage’ battle with big tech, that is the use of its competition law powers to deal with the behavior of the Big Tech companies in terms of stifling competition on EU markets
- Alex Haffner, partner at Fladgate before CNBC
This means Google will have to play nice with third-party apps from now on and make sure it's not forcing its own apps too aggressively on Android clients and people like you and me.
Even though the ruling comes from a European court with jurisdiction in the European Union, Google will most likely comply with the ruling to avoid similar cases in other parts of the world. So, the result is that people will have more options when they buy an Android phone and won't be stuck with Google's own apps by default.
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Mariyan, a tech enthusiast with a background in Nuclear Physics and Journalism, brings a unique perspective to PhoneArena. His childhood curiosity for gadgets evolved into a professional passion for technology, leading him to the role of Editor-in-Chief at PCWorld Bulgaria before joining PhoneArena. Mariyan's interests range from mainstream Android and iPhone debates to fringe technologies like graphene batteries and nanotechnology. Off-duty, he enjoys playing his electric guitar, practicing Japanese, and revisiting his love for video games and Haruki Murakami's works.
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