Google is accused of charging excessive fees to Android app developers over the past 10 years, which has led to an increase in the prices of Play Store products and services. About 20 million British consumers may be affected as a result. A lawyer representing the consumer side said during a class action lawsuit hearing in the London Competition Appeals Court on Tuesday that Google's practice of charging a 30% fee for digital purchases violates competition law. Consumers affected since 2015 could eventually receive compensation totaling around £1.2 billion. “After getting rid of competition restrictions, Google used its market power to charge unfair prices, harmed users' interests, and received unusually rich rewards over a period of nearly 20 years,” the lawyer said in a document submitted to the court. Google, on the other hand, has always denied any anti-competitive behavior.

Google is accused of charging excessive fees to Android app developers over the past 10 years, which has led to an increase in the prices of Play Store products and services. About 20 million British consumers may be affected as a result. A lawyer representing the consumer side said during a class action lawsuit hearing in the London Competition Appeals Court on Tuesday that Google's practice of charging a 30% fee for digital purchases violates competition law. Consumers affected since 2015 could eventually receive compensation totaling around £1.2 billion. “After getting rid of competition restrictions, Google used its market power to charge unfair prices, harmed users' interests, and received unusually rich rewards over a period of nearly 20 years,” the lawyer said in a document submitted to the court. Google, on the other hand, has always denied any anti-competitive behavior.