Google may end up owing £5 billion to thousands of UK businesses

The post Google may end up owing £5 billion to thousands of UK businesses appeared first on Android Headlines.

Apr 16, 2025 - 23:35

Summary: A new lawsuit being filed against Google in the UK claims the company is hurting UK businesses. Google is allegedly using its “near total search dominance” to make itself the only viable option for search advertising, while driving up prices.

Google is being sued by a number of businesses in the UK, and it may end up owing these businesses a total of £5 billion when the lawsuit is all said and done. According to the new lawsuit, filed Wednesday, April 16, Google is being accused of abusing its dominance in Search to restrict competing search engines.

If this feels kind of like the same song and dance, or if it sounds like you’ve heard this one before, that’s because it’s not far off from some of Google’s other lawsuits. While it’s not entirely the same as other lawsuits that have been brought against the search giant, it’s not too unlike them, either. Google has been sued by several other parties in the past few years over a central issue. Allegedly abusing its dominance in search to stay ahead of or otherwise stamp out competition.

This particular lawsuit is being filed with the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, according to the initial report.

The latest lawsuit against Google claims the company is hurting thousands of UK businesses

According to the lawsuit, Google is giving no choice to thousands of UK businesses when it comes to advertising. “Today, UK businesses and organisations, big or small, have almost no choice but to use Google ads to advertise their products and services,” the lawsuit reads. This statement was made by Or Brook, who is a legal professional speaking on behalf of the businesses that are allegedly being affected.

The case is also being represented by the law firm Geradin Partners. The lawsuit alleges that Google is positioning itself to be the “only viable option” for search advertising, while also driving up prices. By being the only viable option, Google would be in a position to charge whatever it wants. And UK businesses would have no recourse. Forced to pay what Google is asking if they want to stay visible to consumers.

Google remains a big target

As mentioned earlier, this is hardly Google’s first rodeo when it comes to legal trouble. The company has faced several lawsuits over the past few years. Some of them are still ongoing. Google has been able to move past others. Just last month, Google finally settled a years-old class action lawsuit that cost it $100 million.

This also isn’t Google’s first UK-based lawsuit, nor its first lawsuit based around search dominance within the country. Last year, a lawsuit was filed with the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal to the tune of £7 billion. This is a case that has yet to be resolved. It’s also still trying to appeal its Play Store case.

Of course, Google takes these cases in stride each time they come along. With this latest lawsuit, Google calls it “another speculative and opportunistic case.” Google says it won’t be “arguing against the case vigorously.” It’s also unlikely to lie down and fork over the money with no pushback.

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