Key information
Consumer technology policy expert Liz Coll has filed a lawsuit against Google at the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal, alleging that the Google Play Store charges hidden fees on application sales. The case involves an estimated 20 million UK consumers and businesses who could share in a 1 billion pound claim, with the trial scheduled to begin on October 6.
The legal action is brought on behalf of UK consumers and businesses who made purchases on the Google Play Store between October 2015 and July 2026. Coll stated that millions of people have paid for mobile applications, games, and subscription services without realizing that prices included hidden fees, with the trial intended to recover those funds.
The lawsuit alleges that Google violated competition law by charging developers up to a 30 percent commission on Play Store purchases and passing those costs onto consumers through higher prices. The claim covers paid apps, in-app purchases, and subscriptions for dating, fitness, music, and gaming services.
Google plans to defend against the claim, with a spokesperson stating that Android offers more choice regarding apps and app stores than other mobile platforms and that Play provides some of the lowest fees in the market. The spokesperson added that the lawsuit ignores this choice and the competitive market, and the company will vigorously defend its services.
