Fines are usually paid to a government whose citizens have suffered. The government can then use the money for the benefit of citizens… Given of course that the government is generally inclined to such a thing.
The EU is rather special in this regard. While the EU enacts those fines, none of those fines end up in the EU budget but will be handed down to the member states, who in turn have no say on the application of these fines.
I’m not defending Google, but who should it pay? Its rivals? If not, then this is just extortion.
Fines are usually paid to a government whose citizens have suffered. The government can then use the money for the benefit of citizens… Given of course that the government is generally inclined to such a thing.
The EU is rather special in this regard. While the EU enacts those fines, none of those fines end up in the EU budget but will be handed down to the member states, who in turn have no say on the application of these fines.