Texas has struck a blow in the battle against Big Tech's market muscle, with Attorney General Ken Paxton announcing a hefty $700 million settlement with Google. The deal lays down the law on the tech behemoth's stranglehold over the Google Play Store. Google's been caught red-handed engaging in monopolistic mischief, and another $70 million in penalties to the states.
The pact, a formidable united effort including attorneys general from all states and territories, aims to right the wrongs inflicted by Google's tight grip on app distribution and in-app payment processing. Users who made purchases on the Play Store from August 2016 through September 2023, they're the ones who bore the brunt of said anti-competitive antics. As per the settlement details shared by the Texas Attorney General's Office, minus the inevitable costs and fees.
The legal wrangling dates back to 2021 when this coalition of legal eagles sued Google. The company's alleged misdeeds? Arm-twisting device makers to keep competitor app stores off Android devices, buttering up key developers to steer clear from rival platforms, and throwing up technical roadblocks that deter direct app downloads to smartphones and tablets.
"Texas has led the nation in the fight to hold giant tech companies accountable for monopolistic activity," Paxton said. In the spirit of free market defense, Google will not only cough up cash but will have to fall in line with better business behavior.
