Google is facing a $2.27 billion lawsuit from 32 media groups alleging that its digital advertising practices caused financial losses.
Publishers including Axel Springer and Schibsted are based in various European countries, including Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Spain, and Sweden.
Contents of the lawsuit. A statement from the media group’s lawyers, Geradin Partners and Steck, said:
- “The media companies involved are suffering losses due to a less competitive market, which is a direct result of Google’s misconduct.”
- “Had it not been for Google’s abuse of its dominant position, media companies would have earned significantly higher revenues from advertising and paid lower fees for ad tech services. Importantly, these funds would have been used to improve the European media landscape. We could have reinvested in strengthening it.”
What Google is saying. Google has denied the allegations, calling them “speculative and opportunistic,” according to Reuters. The company said in a statement:
- “Google is working constructively with publishers across Europe. …[Our advertising tools]adapt and evolve in partnership with those same publishers.”
timing. The case follows a $238 million fine imposed by France’s competition authority on Google’s ad tech business in 2021 and a complaint filed by the European Commission last year, both of which were filed against media organizations. mentioned in the claim.
dutch court. The group chose to litigate in Dutch courts because the country is well known in Europe for handling antitrust claims. This decision will help avoid processing multiple claims across different countries in Europe.
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deep dive. For information on Google’s legal battles in the US, read our antitrust case updates article. Google is being sued by the US Department of Justice.
