Advertisement

The story behind Google’s secret offer to settle EU Android probe

Google has twice failed to strike settlements with the EU, resulting in a total of US$7.8 billion in fines – with a looming threat of more still to come

Reading Time:4 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
0
European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager addresses a news conference last week in Brussels, Belgium, about the EU’s decision to impose a record US$5 billion fine against Google. Photo: Reuters

European Union Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager coolly hit Google with a 4.3 billion (US$5 billion) fine last week, the biggest penalty in the history of antitrust enforcement.

It did not have to be that way.

A year earlier, when Google – already reeling from a 2.4 billion fine in another EU case – made quiet attempts to settle the investigation into deals it has with Android smartphone makers, the response was equally chilly.

The Silicon Valley internet search giant had waited at least a year too long to broach the subject of a settlement, the 50-year-old Vestager said in an interview. When a company wants to settle, it needs to “reach out immediately after” getting the EU’s initial complaint or statement of objections.

“That didn’t happen in this case and then of course it takes the route that it has now taken,” Vestager said of the settlement talks, which have not been previously reported. “So no surprises.”

Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2-3x faster
1.1x
220 WPM
Slow
Normal
Fast
1.1x