New Delhi: In a major blow to two of the world’s largest tech giants, Apple and Google have lost their appeals against multibillion-dollar fines imposed by the European Union (EU). The EU’s highest court upheld rulings that Apple received illegal state aid from Ireland and that Google abused its dominant position in the online search market.
The European Court of Justice ruled that Ireland’s tax arrangements with Apple constituted unlawful state aid, allowing the company to pay significantly less tax than other businesses. The court upheld a previous European Commission decision that Apple owed Ireland €13 billion in back taxes.
In the case against Google, the court confirmed that the company had engaged in anti-competitive practices by favoring its own services, such as Google Shopping, in its search results. The court upheld a €2.4 billion fine imposed on Google by the European Commission.
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These decisions represent a significant victory for the EU’s efforts to curb the power of Big Tech companies and ensure a level playing field for smaller businesses. The cases have been closely watched by regulators around the world, as they could set a precedent for future antitrust actions against tech giants.
The EU’s crackdown on Big Tech has been led by Margrethe Vestager, the bloc’s competition commissioner. Vestager has pursued a number of high-profile cases against tech companies, including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Fiat. The Apple case, in particular, has been seen as a major victory for Vestager’s efforts to hold tech giants accountable for their business practices.
