Google ordered to pay 126 million euros to French media groups for anti-competitive online advertising practices
via SeneNews1 min read
Google has been ordered to pay 126 million euros in damages to several media groups, including Le Figaro and Prisma, for anti-competitive practices in online advertising. The decision was made by the Paris Commercial Court. Prisma Media was awarded 61 million euros, Le Figaro 26 million euros, Les Echos-Le Parisien 11.5 million euros, and video platform Dailymotion 27.5 million euros. These groups had initially sought a total of 570 million euros. Google stated it disputes the court's decisions, arguing that the claims are based on misinterpretations of the adtech industry, which it describes as highly competitive and rapidly evolving. However, Marc Feuillée, CEO of Le Figaro group, believes that a legal precedent has been established, citing previous favorable decisions for Rossel, L'Équipe, and M6. M6 group had previously received nearly 23 million euros from Google in March for similar reasons, where Google was accused of favoring its own online advertising sales platform. In June 2021, the French Competition Authority fined Google 220 million euros for the same issue, and the European Commission imposed a 2.95 billion euro fine on the company last September. The European Commission's decision had drawn criticism from then-US President Donald Trump amid tensions over European regulation of American tech giants.
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