KEY POINTS
- Google services disrupted in Turkey and parts of Europe, later restored (Reuters)
- US judge reaffirms Google’s monopoly but imposes limited remedies (AP)
- Jury orders Google to pay $425m over privacy violations (Reuters)
- Nepal bans 26 major social media platforms for non-registration (Kathmandu Post)
Google faced a series of setbacks this week, from service disruptions in Europe to high-profile legal rulings in the United States, as governments and regulators worldwide sharpen their oversight of global tech platforms.
Service outages across Europe
On Thursday morning, millions of users in Turkey, Greece, Germany, and Bulgaria reported outages affecting YouTube, Gmail, Maps, Chrome, and Translate.
According to Reuters, disruptions spiked around 07:00 GMT before services were largely restored by mid-morning.
The company has not issued a detailed explanation, but the episode highlighted the vulnerabilities of heavy reliance on a single technology provider.
Monopoly and privacy rulings in US
In Washington, US District Judge Amit Mehta ruled that Google illegally maintains a search monopoly, AP reported.
Remedies require the company to share parts of its search index and data with rivals, avoid exclusive distribution agreements, and remain under oversight for up to six years.
Critics, however, described the measures as a “slap on the wrist,” arguing they do little to reduce Google’s market dominance.
Separately, a California federal jury ordered Google to pay $425 million to users in a class-action lawsuit.
According to the court’s findings, the company improperly collected data despite privacy settings that should have blocked such tracking, according to Reuters.
Nepal bans social media platforms
Meanwhile, Nepal’s government announced the immediate suspension of 26 major social media platforms, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, YouTube, and LinkedIn, for failing to register with authorities by an August deadline.
The Kathmandu Post reported that the decision followed the Supreme Court directives. Platforms like TikTok and Viber remain accessible, while Telegram is in the process of compliance.
Rights groups and media experts warned the move could restrict communication, hinder livelihoods, and impact press freedom across the country.
