Google faces £1.2B UK lawsuit over app store commissions

Google is facing a major class action lawsuit in the UK, with consumers alleging that the company's Play Store commission system led to higher prices for around 20 million users. The claim, filed at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, seeks up to £1.2 billion ($1.6 billion) in compensation, arguing that Google's 30% commission on digital purchases since 2015 violated competition law.

Lawyers representing the consumers claim that Google exploited its dominant market position to impose unfair pricing, benefiting from the resulting revenues. Google has consistently denied any wrongdoing, maintaining that its practices are not anti-competitive.

The lawsuit comes as tech giants face growing regulatory scrutiny over their app store practices. Apple has previously faced legal challenges, including a recent ruling that found it abused its dominant position by charging excessive commissions to developers. That case is set for appeal next year.

The UK Competition and Markets Authority has identified Apple and Google as operating a duopoly in mobile platforms, introducing measures to curb their influence. This latest claim adds to the mounting pressure on major app-store operators to justify their business models.