European antitrust regulators are investigating Google’s Play Store, the company said in a regulatory filing, a move that could expose the US tech giant to another billion-euro fine, reported Reuters.
Over the last decade, Google has incurred 8.25 billion euros ($8.24 billion) in EU antitrust fines following three investigations into its business practices.
Related: Dutch Watchdog To Investigate Google Play Store Practices
“In May 2022, the EC (European Commission) and the CMA (Britain’s Competition and Markets Authority) each opened a formal investigation into Google Play’s business practices,” Google said in a quarterly earnings filing dated Oct. 25.
The European Union antitrust watchdog did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
EU antitrust regulators are investigating whether Google’s threat to remove apps from its Play Store if app developers use other payment options instead of its own billing system has hurt the developers, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters in August.
Fees charged by Google and Apple at their mobile app stores have drawn criticism from developers who say they are excessive.
Separately, Google said on Thursday it will appeal its record 4.1-billion-euro ($4.10 billion) EU antitrust fine at Europe’s top court after a lower tribunal threw out its challenge last month.
