Google Faces £1 Billion UK Lawsuit Over Play Store Commissions

Google is facing a £1 billion class action lawsuit in the UK over commissions charged through its Play Store. The case, brought on behalf of around 20 million consumers and businesses, covers purchases made through Google Play or Android devices between October 2015 and July 2026. The claim alleges that Google violated competition law by charging app developers commissions of up to 30%, which were then passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices. The lawsuit includes paid apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions across various categories such as dating, fitness, music, and gaming.

The case was filed in 2021 by consumer technology policy expert Liz Coll and is being represented by law firm Hausfeld. It has now reached the UK’s Competition Appeal Tribunal. Google denies the allegations, arguing that Android provides consumers with more choice than other mobile platforms and that Google Play offers some of the lowest fees in the market. The company plans to defend the case vigorously.

The trial comes in the wake of a similar case against Apple, where the Competition Appeal Tribunal found that Apple abused its dominant market position by charging excessive commissions of around 30% on App Store sales and in-app purchases. That case sought damages on behalf of millions of UK Apple users.

Google recently settled another case related to its Play Store commissions. In September, the Competition Appeal Tribunal approved a £260 million settlement in a class action brought on behalf of UK app developers. The developers argued that Google restricted alternative app distribution and charged excessive commissions. Google denied liability in that case as well.