EU slaps record 4.3b euro fine on Google

The European Union yesterday slapped Google with a huge 4.34-billion-euro fine for abusing the dominance of its Android operating system in the biggest antitrust penalty in the bloc's history.

EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said the US tech giant illegally used Android's near-monopoly to boost usage of its own search engine and browser.

The decision, which follows a three-year investigation, comes as fears of a transatlantic trade war mount due to President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on European steel and aluminium exports.

"Today the commission has decided to fine Google 4.34 billion euros ($5 billion) for breaching EU antitrust rules," Vestager told a press conference in Brussels.

"Google has engaged in illegal practices to cement its dominant market position in internet search."

Vestager, who has taken on a string of Silicon Valley titans as EU antitrust chief, said Google "must put an effective end to this conduct within 90 days or face penalty payments" of up to five percent of its average daily turnover.