Google has gone on trial in London in a mass consumer lawsuit worth more than £1 billion, accused of abusing its dominance to levy excessive commissions on app developers and inflate prices for millions of British shoppers.
The case, which opened at the Competition Appeal Tribunal on 6 October 2026, is brought on behalf of around 20 million consumers who bought apps through Google's Play Store or paid for in-app purchases and subscriptions between 2015 and this July. Lawyers for consumer advocate Liz Coll, who is leading the claim, argue that Google used its dominant position to charge commissions of up to 30% on app purchases, in-app purchases and subscriptions.
The claimants say those excessive commissions were passed on by app developers to consumers. As one illustration, they cited the example that when Google sold YouTube Premium through Apple's App Store, it also decided to pass on the commission it was charged.
Alphabet, Google's parent company, is fighting the lawsuit. A spokesperson said the case ignores the degree of choice the Android platform gives consumers and that Google charges 'some of the lowest fees in the market'. Google's lawyers told the tribunal the company is not dominant in the market for handling digital content transactions, arguing the Play Store 'faces strong competitive constraints both on the developer and consumer sides', including from Apple's App Store and other alternative platforms.
The trial follows similar British actions against Apple and Sony over their App Store and PlayStation Store, both of which centred on commissions of up to 30%. It also follows years of regulatory scrutiny and litigation over Google's app store practices, including a long-running battle with 'Fortnite' maker Epic Games, whose London lawsuit had been due to be heard alongside Coll's. In March 2026, Google and Epic reached a worldwide settlement under which Google agreed to expand billing options and cut developer fees.
Significantly, the tribunal has previously ruled against Apple in a similar consumer action, finding last year that the iPhone maker abused its dominant position to charge excessive commission from app developers. That case is expected at the Court of Appeal next year, and lawyers will be watching closely for how the Google trial influences it.
If Coll's claim succeeds, around 20 million UK consumers could share a payout of up to £1.2 billion, making it one of the largest collective actions ever heard in Britain. The outcome will also shape how platform giants price access to their marketplaces for years to come.