Google Wins Court Battle Against €1.49 Billion EU Antitrust Fine

Google successfully contested a €1.49 billion EU antitrust fine, with the General Court annulling the European Commission's 2019 decision. The penalty, pertaining to Google's ad business on third-party websites, was overturned due to errors in the commission's assessment. The ruling can be appealed on legal points.

Google emerged victorious in a significant legal battle on Wednesday, as it successfully challenged a €1.49 billion ($1.66 billion) European Union antitrust fine related to its online advertising practices.

The EU's General Court dismissed the 2019 penalty imposed by the European Commission—the EU's top antitrust authority—citing errors in the commission's evaluation of exclusivity clauses in Google's advertising contracts.

The ruling, which can only be appealed on legal grounds, marks a crucial win for Google amid escalating global scrutiny of its digital ad business. Meanwhile, EU regulators continue to explore potential actions against the tech giant.

(With inputs from agencies.)