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Google is at the centre of a new legal action brought against it in the UK over claims it 'unfairly and excessively' charges people for digital purchases in its Play Store.
Action has been brought by former Citizens Advice digital policy manager Liz Coll
The action is seeking damages of up to £920 million on behalf of 19.5 million Android phone users in the UK, claiming the 30% cut Google takes from digital purchases means consumers are being overcharged while also shutting down competition.
The case follows a similar action being launched against Apple in May and accuses Google of breaching UK and European competition law.
The claim has been filed with the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London by former Citizens Advice digital policy manager Liz Coll.
It argues that Google requires pre-installation and prominent placing of its Play Store on phones and tablets using its Android operating system, which stifles competition as the majority of UK users rely on the store for access to apps and other digital items.
The action claims Google 'unfairly and excessively' charges people in its Play Store
Furthermore, by driving people to the Play Store, where Google processes transactions through its own payment system and takes a 30% service charge on digital purchases, the company was generating 'massive and rising' profits through an 'unlawful and unearned tax', the claim says.
Google has recently cut its service charge to 15% for the first one million US dollars of revenue a
