Economy
EU Court to Rule on Google’s Appeal of €1.49bn Fine
On Wednesday, an EU court will decide on Google’s appeal against a €1.49 billion ($1.65 billion) fine imposed by the European Union. This comes just a week after the tech giant faced a major legal defeat over a larger penalty.
Regulators worldwide are ramping up scrutiny on Google’s parent company, Alphabet, as legal trials and investigations continue to target the multinational giant. Last week, the European Union secured a legal victory when its top court upheld a 2017 fine of €2.42 billion against Google for abusing its dominant position by promoting its own comparison shopping service.
The European Commission has led the charge in cracking down on big tech abuses, imposing a total of €8.2 billion in fines on Google between 2017 and 2019 for antitrust violations.
The latest case, set for a ruling on Wednesday, concerns the third of those fines—worth €1.49 billion—stemming from Google’s misuse of its dominance through the AdSense advertising service. The Luxembourg-based General Court is scheduled to release its decision on Google’s appeal shortly after 0730 GMT.
Google has requested the court to either fully or partially annul the European Commission’s decision, or at least reduce the fine.
Ongoing Legal Battles
The EU’s actions against Google are far from over. The tech giant is also contesting a €4.3 billion fine levied in 2018 for placing illegal restrictions on Android smartphones to boost its internet search business. This remains the largest antitrust penalty ever imposed by the EU. While the General Court reduced the fine slightly to €4.1 billion in 2022, it largely upheld the EU’s arguments that Google had violated competition laws. Google has since appealed this ruling to the European Court of Justice.
Meanwhile, the EU has strengthened its regulatory arsenal with the introduction of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), designed to prevent antitrust violations before they occur. This law provides clear guidelines on what tech companies can and cannot do online, aiming to correct behaviors proactively rather than reactively issuing fines.
Google, Meta (Facebook’s parent company), and Apple are currently under investigation under the DMA.
Global Pressure Mounts
Google is also facing mounting legal challenges in the US. Last week, it entered its second major antitrust trial within a year, with the US government accusing it of monopolizing ad technology. This follows a US judge’s August ruling that declared Google’s search business an illegal monopoly, sparking fears that the company may face a potential breakup.
Globally, Google’s advertising technology is under intense scrutiny, with British regulators accusing the company of market dominance earlier this month. The EU reached similar conclusions last year, recommending that Google divest its ad tech business. Google has the opportunity to respond to these charges before the final decisions are made.
Despite the growing regulatory pressure, Alphabet reported revenue from online ad searches totaling $48.5 billion for the second quarter of this year.
Expatriate Bangladeshis sent approximately US$ 2.11 billion in remittances during the first 28 days of September in the fiscal year 2024-25, according to data released by Bangladesh Bank on 29 September.
Of this total, state-owned and specialised banks handled $679.10 million, while private banks received $1.43 billion in remittances.
Chief Adviser to Bangladesh’s interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, has vowed to expedite reforms and hold elections swiftly. Yunus, who recently assumed the role after the collapse of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year administration, expressed his commitment during an interview with Tokyo-based news outlet NHK WORLD in New York on Sunday. He was attending the United Nations General Assembly at the time.
Following mass student-led protests that ended Hasina’s long-standing rule in August, Yunus stepped in as the leader of the caretaker government. Known for founding Grameen Bank, an institution providing microloans to the underprivileged, Yunus, along with the bank, earned the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his efforts in poverty alleviation.
During the interview, Yunus emphasized that the interim government’s primary mission is to implement reforms promptly and ensure elections are held as soon as the groundwork is complete. He underscored the importance of success, stating, “Failure is not something that we can accept.”
Addressing the pivotal role of students in the ousting of the Hasina administration, Yunus acknowledged the sacrifices made by young people, referring to their involvement as part of a “revolution.” He highlighted his intention to engage the younger generation in shaping policy.
Furthermore, Yunus called for continued support from Japan, Bangladesh’s largest donor, during this crucial transition period. He stressed that Japan’s assistance is vital to stabilizing Bangladesh’s economy and fostering a democratic foundation in the nation.
Syeda Rizwana Hasan, the Adviser for Environment, Forests, and Climate Change, announced today that steps will be taken to restrict the use of polythene shopping bags to safeguard future generations.
Starting from October 1, polythene bags will be banned in shopping malls, followed by a ban in kitchen markets from November 1.
“Everyone must take responsibility and stop using polythene voluntarily. Action against polythene producers will begin from November 1,” Rizwana Hasan stated during a seminar.
The Department of Environment (DoE) organized the seminar to raise public awareness about alternatives to banned polythene bags.
Rizwana Hasan highlighted that the restriction on polythene will be executed in phases according to legal provisions, and discussions with shopping centers and store owners are ongoing to ensure a smooth transition.
She also announced plans to make the government secretariat a plastic-free zone by December.
Other speakers at the seminar included Environment Secretary Dr. Farhina Ahmed, DoE Director General Dr. Abdul Hamid, Director Rajinara Begum, President of the Shop Owners Association Muhammad Helal Uddin, and Md. Arifur Rahman Bhuiyan, Assistant Professor of Environmental Science at BUP. They discussed the harmful effects of polythene and the need for alternative products.
Earlier, Rizwana Hasan inaugurated a fair showcasing eco-friendly alternatives to polythene bags and visited 24 stalls. The fair featured products from government and private entrepreneurs, including reusable bags, jute bags, paper bags, and items made from bamboo and cane.
