In 2018, Google quietly removed its famous “Don’t be evil” motto from its corporate code of conduct. Around the same time, the company was hit with some massive fines.
While these two events might not be directly connected, Google has faced hefty financial penalties over the last decade, totaling roughly $11.4 billion. When you adjust for inflation, that amount rises to over $14 billion in today’s money.
Here’s a look at the major fines Google has faced over the past ten years, listed in order of when they were imposed. For consistency, these amounts have been converted to US dollars and also adjusted for inflation to show their current value.
Here’s How Much Has Google Paid in Fines Over the Years:
Year – Imposing Body – Fine in USD (millions) – Inflation-adjusted (millions):
- 2017 – European Commission – $2,547 – $3,270
- 2018 – European Commission – $5,213 – $6,535
- 2019 – European Commission – $1,708 – $2,103
- 2019 – US Federal Trade Commission – $170 – $209
- 2020 – French CNIL – $112 -$136
- 2021 – French CNIL – $590 – $685
- 2021 – Italian Competition Authority – $123 – $143
- 2021 – South Korea Fair Trade Commission – $177 – $206
- 2022 – French CNIL – $158 – $170
- 2022 – Australia Competition and Consumer Commission – $43 – $46
- 2022 – India Competition Commission – $275 – $296
- 2024 – French CNIL – $272 – $272
- Totals: $11,388 – $14,071
Despite these staggering figures, they don’t even cover all of Google’s legal troubles. For example, the company paid $400 million in a privacy case in 2022 and $700 million last year related to the Play Store and sideloading. These settlements add even more to the financial strain Google has been under.
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Via – AndroidAuthority