Google responds to a UK class action lawsuit, claiming that if successful, the US technology company will pay up to $ 1.3 billion in compensation to its British consumer, equivalent to $ 6.6 billion.
The move was proposed by Lis Cole, a London-based consumer rights activist, and gained the character of a collective defense of rights (class action), extending its benefits to approximately 19.5 million Android users in the UK. According to the complaint, Google charges consumers “unfairly and excessively” for digital purchases on its Play Store.
The Coalition of 37 State Attorney Generals proposed within a month of filing a lawsuit against Maudain View that the current lawsuit is being overcharged on the Play Store. As the “protector of many digital services”, the author argues that Google cannot abuse this position, exaggerating the average consumer.
British complaints on Google
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The main reason why the 30% surcharge applicable to the Play Store for digital purchases is said to be illegal. This percentage, used for the amount transferred to app developers, is “not related to the cost of providing the services,” Cole says.
He acknowledges that Google has done a great job in opening up access to smartphone benefits to everyone who uses the Android system. But Cole says, “despite the fact that it’s an open system that offers options,” Google is crushing competition and “trapping” consumers in its App Store and its bizarre pricing system.
In response, a Google spokesperson said in a statement, “97% of developers on Google Play pay no service fees, meaning their apps are free to consumers.”
Jane Austen is a writer and contributor covering culture, literature, lifestyle, and society. Her work focuses on thoughtful storytelling, social trends, and the issues shaping everyday life, delivering engaging and accessible content for readers across the United Kingdom.
