Axel Springer, Schibsted, and 32 media groups have hit Alphabet’s Google with a 2.1-billion-euro ($2.3 billion) lawsuit alleging losses incurred due to the company’s practices in digital advertising.
The group, comprising publishers from various European countries, claimed that Google’s misconduct resulted in a less competitive market, leading to financial losses for media companies.
Their lawyers, Geradin Partners, and Stek, asserted that Google’s abuse of its dominant position impacted advertising revenues and increased fees for ad tech services, hindering potential reinvestment in the European media landscape.
The media companies referenced the French competition authority’s 220-million-euro fine against Google in 2021 and the European Commission’s charges from the previous year to support their group claim.
The lawsuit coincides with challenges to Google’s core advertising business, particularly as the industry undergoes a shift toward generative AI chat.
In response, a Google spokesperson stated the company’s opposition to the lawsuit, dismissing it as “speculative and opportunistic.” Google had previously disagreed with EU antitrust charges related to its ad tech business.
Publishers globally have expressed concerns about Big Tech’s growing dominance in advertising, with Google being recognized as the most dominant digital advertising platform worldwide.
The group chose to file the lawsuit in a Dutch court, citing the country’s reputation as a key jurisdiction for antitrust damages claims in Europe and to avoid multiple claims in different European countries.
Other members of the group include Krone (Austria), DPG Media and Mediahuis (Belgium), TV2 Danmark A/S (Denmark), Sanoma (Finland), Agora (Poland), Prensa Iberica (Spain), and Ringier (Switzerland).
