Google, Amazon Gain EU Court Backing in Italy

Google, Amazon, and Airbnb won Europe’s top court’s support on Thursday in their fight against an Italian rule mandating them to divulge personal information

The focal point of the disagreement between the corporations and the Italian government revolved around regulations implemented in 2020 and 2021 that required online service providers operating within Italy to register, provide a financial contribution, submit various information, and pay a fine.

The companies challenged the requirement because it violated EU law, which states that online service providers are solely governed by the nation’s regulations in which they are established and that the countries from which they deliver their services must abstain from enforcing their legislation.

“A member state may not impose additional obligations on an online service provider established in another member state,” stated the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU), headquartered in Luxembourg.

“Italy cannot impose additional obligations on providers of those services established in other member states, which, although required for the provision of those services in that country, are not imposed in their member state of establishment,” according to them.

The European headquarters of Google and Airbnb are in Ireland, while Amazon is in Luxembourg. Expedia, a Spanish-based online travel services provider in the United States, also rejected the requirement.

The decision is conclusive and not subject to appeal.
C-666/22 Amazon Services Europe, C-662/22 Airbnb Ireland, C-667/22 Expedia, C-664/22 Google Ireland, C-666/22 Eg Vacation Rentals Ireland, and C-665/22 Amazon Services Europe are the corresponding cases.