Google loses final EU court appeal against 2.4 billion euro fine in antitrust shopping case
London (AP): Google lost its final legal challenge on Tuesday against a European Union penalty for giving its own shopping recommendations an illegal advantage over rivals in search results, ending a long-running antitrust case that came with a whopping fine.
The European Union's Court of Justice upheld a lower court's decision, dismissing the company's appeal against the 2.4 billion euro (USD 2.7 billion) penalty from the European Commission, the 27-nation bloc's top antitrust enforcer.
The commission's original decision in 2017 accused the Silicon Valley giant of unfairly directing visitors to its own Google Shopping service to the detriment of competitors. It was one of three multibillion-euro fines that the commission imposed on Google in the previous decade as Brussels started ramping up its crackdown on the tech industry.
Google made changes to comply with the commission's decision requiring it to treat competitors equally. The company started holding auctions for shopping search listings that it would bid for alongside other comparison shopping services.
At the same time, the company appealed the decision to the courts. But the EU General Court, the tribunal's lower section, rejected its challenge in 2021 and the Court of Justice's adviser later recommended rejecting the appeal.
Google is also appealing the other two EU antitrust penalties involving its Android mobile operating system and AdSense advertising platform. The company was dealt a setback in the Android case when the EU General Court upheld the commission's 4.125 billion euro fine in a 2022 decision. Its initial appeal against a 1.49 billion euro fine in the AdSense case has yet to be decided.
Those three cases foreshadowed expanded efforts by regulators worldwide to crack down on the tech industry. The EU has since opened more investigations into Big Tech companies and drafted new laws to clean up social media platforms and regulate artificial intelligence.
Google is facing particular pressure over its digital advertising business. In a federal antitrust trial set to begin Monday, the US Department of Justice alleges the company holds a monopoly in the “ad tech” industry.
British competition regulators accused Google last week of abusing its dominance in “ad tech” while the EU is carrying out its own investigation.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Samrat Samprati Museum's message important for world facing instability & unrest: PM Modi
Gandhinagar (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday said the newly built Samrat Samprati Museum in Gujarat sends a strong message of peace and non-violence at a time when the world is "engulfed in the flames of instability and unrest".
Referring to the current global situation, Modi said the legacy and message of the museum are significant not just for India but for humanity.
"We are correcting the mistakes of previous governments, which failed to preserve valuable manuscripts," he said after inaugurating the museum located on Shri Mahavir Jain Aradhana Kendra campus at Koba village near Gandhinagar on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti.
"Given the current global scenario - the way the world is being scorched in the fires of instability and unrest - the legacy and message of this museum hold immense significance," he said.
The museum reflects India's core strength of diversity and unity, bringing together traditions such as the Vedas, Puranas, Ayurveda, Yoga and other philosophical streams, he noted.
"This is something that could happen only in India," he added.
The museum is named after Samrat Samprati Maharaj (224-215 BC), the grandson of Samrat Ashoka and a Mauryan ruler known for propagating Jainism and the principle of non-violence.
Highlighting the concept behind the museum, the prime minister said Samrat Samprati represents the link between philosophy and governance.
"Samrat Samprati is not merely the name of a historical king. He serves as a bridge that connects India's philosophy with its practice," he said.
The museum preserves this legacy and has been designed to showcase India's identity at every step, Modi noted. He pointed to its seven galleries, saying they "proclaim India's diversity and cultural richness".
Referring to preservation of heritage, Modi said India had lost a vast treasure of knowledge in the past when ancient centres of learning like Takshashila and Nalanda were destroyed by foreign invaders.
Valuable manuscripts were burnt by invaders, leading to an immense heritage of humanity being lost, he pointed out.
In later years, people protected whatever remained by passing manuscripts from one generation to another, the PM said.
However, after Independence, the responsibility of preserving such knowledge was not taken up seriously by earlier governments, he said.
"After Independence, this should have been a national priority. Regrettably, due to a colonial mindset, no attention was paid to this vital cause," he said, in an apparent reference to Congress-led governments before 2014.
Modi credited saints and scholars for preserving India's heritage, mentioning the efforts of Jain seers who travelled across the country to collect manuscripts over decades. He said lakhs of manuscripts written on palm leaves and bark have now been preserved.
"We are today rectifying the mistakes committed by previous governments, which had neglected these manuscripts," he said.
The PM also said his government has launched the 'Gyan Bharatam Mission' to preserve and digitise ancient manuscripts using modern technology.
"Under this mission, manuscripts are being digitised, scientifically preserved and archived. People are also uploading manuscripts kept in their personal custody," he informed.
The initiative would help collect scattered manuscripts from across the country and make them accessible for future generations, he said.
Modi said the government is making large-scale efforts to promote India's cultural heritage globally, including restoration of temples, development of pilgrimage sites and promotion of traditional knowledge systems like Ayurveda and Yoga.
He also cited projects such as the upcoming maritime museum at Lothal and plans for a national museum in Delhi to present India's history comprehensively.
Taking a swipe at previous regimes, Modi said earlier efforts to present history were influenced by political considerations.
"You may recall that in the past, such endeavours were often viewed through a political lens. Everything revolved around setting a specific narrative for a particular political family," he said, in an apparent reference to the Gandhi-Nehru family.
"We have put an end to this mindset," the PM said, adding the government is working with the vision of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'.
Modi also called for encouraging students and researchers from across the world to visit the museum and carry India's message of non-violence and knowledge globally.
"When we rise above personal aspirations and work for the nation, the pace of progress increases," he stressed.
The museum houses rare artefacts, ancient manuscripts and sculptures spread across seven galleries, offering a glimpse into India's spiritual and cultural legacy, a release by the Jain Aradhana Kendra said.
It showcases centuries-old Jain art, including stone and metal idols, illustrated manuscripts, coins and traditional artefacts, while also using modern audio-visual technology to create an immersive experience for visitors.
