Google is facing a new wave of private lawsuits across Europe that could seek up to US$10 billion in damages after losing the first case brought under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), adding to years of regulatory penalties against the technology giant.
The legal challenges follow last week’s US$1 billion EU fine, which found Google had favoured its own services and prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper payment options outside Google Play. Lawyers and litigation financiers said the ruling could encourage more rivals to seek compensation in courts across Europe.
“I think this will trigger a new wave of litigation,” said Thomas Hoppner, a partner at Geradin Partners, noting that claimants may pursue damages not only under the DMA but also under older EU competition laws.
Google rejected the claims. “We strongly disagree with these lawsuits, which are brought by companies looking for a payout instead of investing in their own products,” a spokesperson said.
The latest legal threats come as Alphabet grapples with rising spending on artificial intelligence, with its free cash flow turning negative in the second quarter for the first time since becoming a public company.
The company has already been hit with €10.4 billion in EU antitrust fines over the past decade. Existing claims include Sweden’s PriceRunner, Italy’s Moltiply Group and UK-based Kelkoo, which said the latest DMA ruling strengthens ongoing legal actions.
Lawyers expect the cases to take years to conclude, with Google likely to appeal the latest fine while continuing to defend itself against damages claims across multiple European jurisdictions.
