Home / Issues / European Commission abuse-of-dominance finding over Google's comparison shopping service
European Commission abuse-of-dominance finding over Google's comparison shopping service
Decidedas of 31 Oct 2026European Union / EEAGoogle LLCAlphabet Inc.draft
Current status
Confirmed fact · as of 10 Sep 2024
The abuse-of-dominance finding and the EUR 2.42 billion fine are final following the Court of Justice judgment of 10 September 2024.
A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Confirmed fact · as of 31 Oct 2026
This is an EU competition (administrative) decision confirmed by the EU courts; it is not a criminal conviction.
A European Commission, Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion for abusing dominance as search engine by giving illegal advantage to own comparison shopping service (IP/17/1784) (27 Jun 2017) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Unanswered question · as of 31 Oct 2026
This record covers the Google Shopping matter only; it does not assess the adequacy of Google's ongoing compliance measures or separate EU proceedings concerning other Google services.
A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Last reviewed 31 Oct 2026. An initial allegation is not the final event; this block is always shown.
How it unfolded
Issue raised · 27 Jun 2017
Proposition: The European Commission alleged that Google abused its dominant position in general internet search in 13 EEA countries by systematically giving prominent placement to its own comparison shopping service while demoting rival comparison shopping services in its search results.
Affected parties: Google LLC, Alphabet Inc., European Commission, Competing comparison shopping services
Originating record: A European Commission, Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion for abusing dominance as search engine by giving illegal advantage to own comparison shopping service (IP/17/1784) (27 Jun 2017) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Response · Google / Alphabet Inc. · 27 Jun 2017
Attributed claim · as of 27 Jun 2017
On the day of the decision Alphabet's General Counsel said the company 'respectfully disagree[d] with the conclusions announced' and would review the decision 'as we consider an appeal'. Google subsequently brought legal challenges before the EU courts. — Google / Alphabet Inc.
C Fox Business / MarketWatch (Tomi Kilgore), Google 'respectfully' disagrees with EU's $2.7 billion fine and will consider an appeal (27 Jun 2017) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A General Court of the European Union, Press release No 197/21: Judgment in Case T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Nov 2021) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Amendment (11 Sep 2017): Google lodged an appeal against the decision before the General Court of the European Union (Case T-612/17). A General Court of the European Union, Press release No 197/21: Judgment in Case T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Nov 2021) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Outcome · European Commission (confirmed on appeal by the General Court and the Court of Justice of the European Union) · 27 Jun 2017
official findingbinding
Confirmed fact · as of 10 Sep 2024
On 27 June 2017 the European Commission found that Google had abused its dominant position in general internet search by favouring its own comparison shopping service over competing services, and imposed a fine of EUR 2,424,495,000 (of which EUR 523,518,000 jointly and severally with Alphabet). The General Court on 10 November 2021 largely dismissed Google's action and upheld the fine (while annulling one part of the Commission's effects analysis), and on 10 September 2024 the Court of Justice dismissed the further appeal, confirming the fine. The EU courts noted that EU law does not sanction a dominant position itself, only its abusive exploitation.
A European Commission, Antitrust: Commission fines Google €2.42 billion for abusing dominance as search engine by giving illegal advantage to own comparison shopping service (IP/17/1784) (27 Jun 2017) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A General Court of the European Union, Press release No 197/21: Judgment in Case T-612/17, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Nov 2021) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026 · A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
Remedy: A fine of EUR 2,424,495,000. The Commission also required Google to stop the conduct and to treat competing comparison shopping services no less favourably than its own within the Commission's deadline; non-compliance could trigger periodic penalty payments.
Appeal/review: concluded — General Court judgment of 10 November 2021 (T-612/17) largely dismissed Google's action and upheld the fine; the Court of Justice judgment of 10 September 2024 (C-48/22 P) dismissed Google's and Alphabet's appeal, making the fine final. A Court of Justice of the European Union, Press release No 135/24: Judgment in Case C-48/22 P, Google and Alphabet v Commission (Google Shopping) (10 Sep 2024) · retrieved 31 Oct 2026
How to read this. Allegation, response and outcome are separate, dated records. "Decided/resolved" appears only where a cited outcome supports it. Materially affected parties can request a correction via Corrections & response.