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Google Faces Setback as EU Court Adviser Supports Antitrust Regulators

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Alphabet’s Google encountered a potential setback on Thursday after an adviser to Europe’s highest court sided with EU antitrust regulators over a landmark €4.34 billion ($4.98 billion) fine imposed seven years ago.

The European Commission ruled in 2018 that Google had abused its dominant position by using its Android mobile operating system to block competitors. While a lower court upheld the ruling in 2022, it slightly reduced the fine to €4.1 billion. Google subsequently appealed to the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).

Juliane Kokott, Advocate-General at the Luxembourg-based CJEU, issued a non-binding opinion recommending the court reject Google’s appeal and confirm the reduced fine. Kokott stated, “The legal arguments put forward by Google are ineffective.”

She dismissed Google’s claim that regulators should assess the situation by comparing Google with a hypothetical, equally efficient competitor. Kokott explained, “Google held a dominant position in several markets of the Android ecosystem and thus benefited from network effects that enabled it to ensure that users used Google Search.”

Judges typically follow the Advocate-General’s opinion in about 80% of cases. A final ruling is expected in the coming months.

Google responded by emphasizing Android’s role in creating choice and supporting businesses globally, expressing disappointment with the opinion. A spokesperson said, “If followed by the Court, [the opinion] would discourage investment in open platforms and harm Android users, partners, and app developers.”

The regulators’ investigation found Google had imposed illegal practices dating back to 2011, including requiring manufacturers to pre-install Google Search and Chrome browser alongside Google Play on Android devices. Google also paid manufacturers to pre-install only Google Search and prevented the use of rival Android systems.

Google’s Android runs on approximately 73% of the world’s smartphones, according to Statcounter.

This fine is part of a broader enforcement effort against Google, which has amassed €8.25 billion in penalties across three antitrust cases over the past decade, with additional investigations ongoing.

Case Reference: C-738/22 P Google and Alphabet v Commission

Waymo Returns to New York City for Autonomous Vehicle Testing

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Waymo, the self-driving technology unit of Alphabet, announced on Wednesday that it will resume testing in New York City next month, bringing its autonomous vehicles back to Manhattan streets as it scales up U.S. operations.

The company has formally applied for a permit with the New York City Department of Transportation to conduct autonomous testing with a trained human operator behind the wheel. While the current phase will begin with manual driving, the permit would pave the way for New York’s first official autonomous vehicle test deployment on public roads.

“This is not an expansion, but we have every intention of bringing our fully autonomous ride-hailing service to the city in the future,” Waymo said in a statement.

New York State law currently prohibits fully driverless vehicle operation — a restriction Waymo is now lobbying to change.

Waymo first brought its vehicles to Manhattan in 2021, conducting manual driving and data collection exercises. The latest push signals its long-term commitment to eventually offering robotaxi services in one of the country’s most complex urban environments.

The move comes amid heightened competition in the self-driving industry. Rival Tesla is expected to launch a limited trial of its autonomous taxi service with just 10 vehicles this weekend, signaling growing industry momentum.

Meanwhile, Waymo continues to expand in California. The company announced Tuesday it will extend coverage to more areas of Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula after receiving state regulatory approval last month.

Currently, Waymo remains the only U.S. company operating robotaxi services with paying passengers, delivering over 250,000 weekly rides across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin with a fleet of more than 1,500 autonomous vehicles.

Waymo Expands Robotaxi Service Across Bay Area and Los Angeles

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Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo announced on Tuesday that it is expanding its robotaxi operations across more parts of the San Francisco Bay Area and Los Angeles, further cementing its lead as the only commercial robotaxi operator with paying customers in the U.S.

Following a recent greenlight from California regulators, Waymo’s autonomous ride-hailing service will now serve several new cities on the San Francisco Peninsula — including Brisbane, South San Francisco, San Bruno, Millbrae, and Burlingame. In Silicon Valley, it is broadening its reach in Palo Alto and Menlo Park.

In Los Angeles, starting Wednesday, Waymo will operate in:

  • Playa del Rey

  • Ladera Heights

  • Echo Park

  • Silver Lake

  • The full stretch of Sunset Boulevard

While San Jose is included in the regulatory approval, Waymo has not yet confirmed a launch timeline for service in the city.

Industry Context:

This expansion comes as Tesla prepares to debut its own paid robotaxi service in Austin, Texas, intensifying the competition in autonomous mobility. However, Waymo remains the only player operating at commercial scale — with over 1,500 vehicles completing more than 250,000 rides weekly across San Francisco, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Austin.

As the self-driving sector gains momentum, Waymo’s growing footprint highlights the company’s strategy of incremental but steady expansion, banking on regulatory compliance and real-world data to maintain its edge.