A coalition of nearly 40 states is suing Google over allegations that the fees it extracts from makers of Android apps on its mobile Play store violate antitrust laws, according to a person familiar with the matter.
Google is already facing antitrust lawsuits that were filed last year by a multistate coalition and the U.S. Justice Department over distribution of its search products. Another coalition of states is challenging Google's practices in the ad-tech market.
The lawsuits are part of a larger escalation of competition enforcement against Big Tech companies.
Complaints by app makers about mobile operating system fees have become common in recent years, and they were the center of the May trial in the antitrust lawsuit by video game maker Epic against Apple over its 30% commission. Epic has also sued Google.
Various states have looked into regulating the markets, and lawmakers in Congress on both sides of the aisle have had tough words for Google and Apple, which between them make up most of the mobile market.
The companies have insisted they face robust competition, and Apple has argued extensively that its fees pay for important privacy and security investments that make its app marketplace worth joining in the first place.
Unlike on Apple phones, Google's Play store is the main, but not the only, app store available on Android phones.
Climate TRACE's data show emissions at the facility-level.Image: Climate TRACE