Google loses app store antitrust appeal, must make sweeping changes to Play Store

Google has lost its appeal against a landmark antitrust ruling in the European Union, which will force the tech giant to make significant changes to its Play Store. The European General Court upheld the European Commission's 2018 decision that Google abused its dominant position in the mobile operating system market. The ruling means Google must now allow users to install apps from alternative sources, known as "sideloading," and permit third-party app stores on the Play Store. This could lead to increased competition and more choice for Android users, who have traditionally been limited to the Play Store for app downloads. The decision is a major blow to Google's control over the Android ecosystem and could have far-reaching implications for the company's business model. It remains to be seen how Google will implement the required changes and how the broader app market will evolve as a result of this ruling.