French media sue Google for $1.1 billion over advertising

Paris: Seven French media groups plan to sue Google seeking more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) for alleged anti-competitive practices in online advertising, a report said Friday.

The professional information service Mind Media said the seven groups, representing a total of 22 companies, had either begun or were about to begin legal action.

The move comes after the French competition watchdog fined Google 220 million euros in June 2021 for favouring its own services in the online advertising sector.