Google to pay $700M in antitrust settlement

Google has committed to a $700-million payment and facilitating increased competition within its Play app store, as outlined in the terms of an antitrust settlement with US states and consumers revealed in a San Francisco court.
The tech giant will enable developers on its Play app store to provide direct payment options to users, addressing antitrust concerns in the ongoing regulatory scrutiny of the tech giant's practices.
Google has been accused of suppressing competition to its Play Store on Android devices.
The tech giant was also accused of overcharging customers through unnecessary fees for in-app transactions. The proposed settlement dictates that Google should contribute $630 million to a fund for consumers and $70 million to a fund for states, pending final legal approval. Eligible customers may receive a minimum of $2, with the possibility of additional payments based on their spending patterns on Google Play between August 2016 and September 2023.
Google's Vice President of Government Affairs, Wilson White, said that this settlement builds on Android's choice and flexibility, maintains strong security protections and retains Google's ability to compete with other OS makers and invest in the Android ecosystem for users and developers.
Criticism has mounted against Google for alleged abuse of competition practices and monopolistic behavior. This recent settlement addresses concerns specifically related to its app store, which has been subject to intense scrutiny. Notably, the Google Play Store, alongside Apple's App Store, is one of the primary marketplaces for mobile apps, and its fee structure has been a point of contention.