Google loses court fight against $854,250 Italian fine over gambling advertising
Next steps in the Italian case
The Italian court will now rule on the merits of the case based on the CJEU’s judgement.
Google did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.
EU court sides with Italy over YouTube gambling ad fine
Alphabet unit Google on Thursday lost its fight against a €750,000 ($854,250) fine imposed for gambling advertising on its YouTube video platform four years ago as Europe’s top court sided with Italy’s communication authority.
Google had challenged the fine handed out by an Italian administrative court in 2022, prompting that court to seek guidance from the Luxembourg-based Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU).
Court says platform exemption does not apply in this case
The U.S. tech giant said it was shielded from liability for content uploaded by third parties under EU telecoms rules. The YouTube videos promoting online gambling had been uploaded by a content creator with a commercial partnership deal with Google.
Big Tech has repeatedly cited this exemption against attempts by regulators and users to hold them responsible for content uploaded to their platforms amid growing worries globally about the impact of social media on children.
“Google may be held liable for the YouTube videos of a content creator with whom it has a commercial partnership,” the CJEU said.
Judges said online platforms could claim exemption from liability if they merely “act as an intermediary service provider carrying out a strictly technical, automated and passive activity, excluding any knowledge or control over the information which is transmitted or stored.”
“That is not the case where an operator reviews, for the purpose of concluding a commercial partnership contract, the main theme of a video channel, that channel's most viewed videos or newest videos and the associated metadata,” the CJEU said.
