The EU doesn't suffer fools lightly and usually hits companies with strict fines and sanctions for engaging in anti-competitive and monopolistic practices.
The largest fine to date was 2.42bn euros ($2.7bn; £2.1bn) charged to Google by the European Commission after it ruled the company had abused its power by promoting its own shopping comparison service at the top of search results.
"What Google has done is illegal under EU antitrust rules," declared Margrethe Vestager, the European Union's Competition Commissioner. "It has denied other companies the chance to compete on their merits and to innovate, and most importantly it has denied European consumers the benefits of competition, genuine choice and innovation."
So, shady practices by companies that get the pass in other countries are met with serious repercussions in the EU. Microsoft was fined US $ 794 million in 2004 for its antitrust case and Apple was dinged for $14.5 billion just last year for back taxes. Google's 2.7 billion dollar fine is the biggest.
Google plans to appeal. "We respectfully disagree with the conclusions announced today. We will review the Commission's decision in detail as we consider an appeal, and we look forward to continuing to make our case."
Source: BBC.com