Google is set to face trial in a £7 billion class action lawsuit in the UK, following the Competition Appeal Tribunal’s decision to proceed.
The lawsuit, filed by consumer rights advocate Nikki Stopford, accuses Google of abusing its dominant search engine position to inflate advertising costs, which are passed on to consumers.
Allegations include forcing Android manufacturers to pre-install Google apps and paying Apple billions to remain the default iPhone search engine.
The case includes all UK consumers aged 16 and over unless they opt out. Google, which denies the claims, argues the case lacks merit.
The trial adds to Google’s mounting legal challenges, including scrutiny from the US Department of Justice, which has proposed measures like selling Chrome to curb Google’s dominance.
