On November 25, 2024, the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal (CAT) authorized a £7 billion class action lawsuit against Google, alleging the company abused its dominance in the search market. The lawsuit, initiated by consumer advocate Nikki Stopford in September 2023, claims Google’s practices led to higher advertising costs, which were subsequently passed on to consumers. Specific allegations include compelling Android phone manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome, and paying Apple to make Google the default search engine on Safari. Google disputes these claims, asserting that users choose its services due to their utility.
This case marks another significant legal challenge for Google, which is already embroiled in a high-profile antitrust trial in the United States. The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has accused the company of monopolistic behavior, focusing on similar practices around search engine dominance and exclusive deals. Together, these lawsuits intensify scrutiny on Google’s business practices globally, raising questions about the future of competition in the tech industry.