Google to pay $700 million to US states, consumers in Play store settlement

Google agreed to pay $700 million and to allow more competition in its Play app store, according to the terms of an antitrust settlement with State Attorneys General and consumers filed in federal court on Monday.

Google has agreed to pay $700 million and to allow more competition in its Play app store, according to the terms of an antitrust settlement with US states and consumers filed in federal court on Monday. In separate complaints, the Justice Department and dozens of states accused Google in 2020 of abusing its dominance in online search by allegedly harming competition through deals with wireless carriers and smartphone makers that made Google Search the default or exclusive option on products used by millions of consumers. The complaints eventually consolidated into a single case. “Today, the details of a settlement reached in September with state attorneys general were filed publicly,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement Monday.  According to the settlement and company statement: “Google will pay $630 million into a settlement fund to be distributed for the benefit of consumers according to a Court-approved plan.” Another $70 million will be paid into a fund to be used by the states, according to the settlement filed in a San Francisco federal court. Some 102 million consumers stand to benefit from the fund, according to the settlement. “Each eligible consumer will receive at least $2 and will receive additional payments in proportion to their Google Play spending during the period between August 16, 2016 and September 30, 2023,” it said.