The European Union has fined US internet giant Google with a record $5 billion (4.34 billion euros) for abusing the dominance of its Android mobile operating system, which is by far the most popular smartphone OS in the world.
The EU ruling, announced on Wednesday, could spark new trade tensions between Brussels and Washington.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive body ordered Google to put an end to illegal conduct within 90 days, or else pay the $5 billion fine.
EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said that Google went against EU rules when it required mobile phone producers to pre-install Google search and browser apps as a condition for licensing Google’s app store.
Vestager said Google also paid big producers to exclusively pre-install the Google search app. She said that “companies must compete on their merits and not restrict competition.”
Google has previously denied these accusations and said it would appeal…