Tue Sep 10 14:37:00 UTC 2024: ## EU Court Upholds €15.4 Billion Fines Against Apple and Google
**Luxembourg, September 10, 2024** – The European Union’s highest court has dealt a major blow to Big Tech giants Apple and Google, upholding hefty fines against both companies.
The Court of Justice confirmed a €13 billion ($14.4 billion) Irish tax bill for Apple, upholding a 2016 decision that Ireland had provided the tech giant with an unfair advantage by allowing it to pay minimal taxes. This ruling marks a significant victory for the EU’s ongoing efforts to crack down on tax avoidance by multinational corporations.
In a separate ruling, the court upheld a €2.4 billion fine against Google for abusing its dominant position in the online search market. The court found that Google illegally favored its own product listings in search results, disadvantaging competitors.
These rulings are seen as a major boost to the EU’s antitrust chief Margrethe Vestager, who has spearheaded the effort to hold Big Tech companies accountable for their market dominance. The court’s decisions send a clear message that the EU will not tolerate anti-competitive practices and tax avoidance by multinational corporations.
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