VOA慢速英语2018 欧盟对谷歌开出创纪录的50亿美元罚单

EU Fines Google a Record $5 Billion

The European Union has fined Google $5 billion for having too much control of software that goes into mobile phones.

由于过度控制手机上安装的软件软件，欧盟对谷歌开出了50亿美元的罚款。

EU Competition Commissioner¹ Margrethe Vestager said Google broke EU rules for market competition.

欧盟竞争专员玛格丽特·维斯塔格[Margrethe Vestager]表示，谷歌违反了欧盟的市场竞争规定。

Google is the maker² of the Android mobile operating system for mobile phones and similar devices.

谷歌是用于移动电话和类似设备的安卓移动操作系统的制造商。

Vestager said Google requires mobile phone producers to install Google Search software in their phones. She said Google made having the search software a condition of letting phone makers³ link to Google's app store.

维斯塔格表示，谷歌要求手机制造商在其手机中预装谷歌搜索软件。她说，谷歌将安装该搜索软件作为允许手机制造商连接到谷歌应用程序商店的先决条件。

In addition, Vestager said, Google paid big phone producers to only install the Google search app.

维斯塔格表示，此外谷歌还收买大型手机制造商只预装谷歌的搜索应用程序。

Vestager said that "companies must compete on their merits" and must observe rules meant to help consumers and open markets.

维斯塔格表示，公司必须根据它们的优势进行竞争，并且必须遵守旨在帮助消费者和开放市场的规定。

Biggest EU fine for anti-competitive methods

欧盟对反竞争手段开出的最大罚单

Google said it would appeal the ruling. A spokesman for the company Al Verney said, "Android has created more choice for everyone, not less."

谷歌表示将会对该裁决提出上诉。AI Verney公司的发言人表示：“安卓手机为大家创造了更多选择，而不是减少了选择。”

The fine is the biggest the EU has ever given to a company for anti-competitive activities.

这是欧盟就反竞争行为向一家公司开出的最大罚单。

Vestager said the size of the fine is reasonable if the company's income is considered. Google is part of the technology company Alphabet, based in Mountain View, California. Alphabet had income of about $31 billion dollars in the first three months of the year.

维斯塔格表示，如果考虑到该公司的收入，这笔罚款的大小是合理的。谷歌是总部位于加州山景城的Alphabet科技公司的一部分。Alphabet公司今年一季度收入大约为310亿美元。

The EU fined Google $2.8 billion dollars in June of 2017 over how it its search engine provided shopping lists.

2017年6月，欧盟对谷歌公司搜索引擎的购物列表的提供方式开出了28亿美元的罚单。

The ruling comes at a time of increased trade tensions between the EU and the U.S. The administration of President Donald Trump⁴ has placed import taxes on European steel and aluminum⁵, angering allies. The EU has answered by placing import taxes on American goods.

这项裁决的出台正值欧盟和美国之间的贸易紧张局势不断加剧。川普政府已经对欧洲钢铝产品征收进口税，激怒了盟国。欧盟以向美国商品征收进口税来作为回应。

Some observers say that the EU has targeted U.S. technology companies, including Microsoft and Apple, for breaking competition or tax rules.

一些观察人士表示，欧盟已经将包括微软和苹果在内的美国科技公司作为目标，理由是违反了竞争或税务规定。

European officials deny this.

欧盟官员否认了这点。

They noted⁶ that Google held a more than 90 percent share of the market in most European countries.

他们指出，谷歌在大多数欧盟国家占据了90%以上的市场份额。

EU officials said Google abused its large market share by preventing phone makers from using different versions of its Android mobile operating system. Google does this although Android is technically⁷ open-source software, meaning that it can be freely added to by developers.

欧盟官员表示，谷歌阻止手机制造商使用不同版本的安卓移动操作系统，滥用了它庞大的市场份额。尽管安卓在技术上是开源软件，这意味着开发人员可以自行添加，但是谷歌还是这么干了。

Google argues that its main way of making money from Android mobile is by selling apps and content. It says if its business is limited too much, it will no longer be able to provide Android to mobile phone makers for free.

谷歌辩称，该公司从安卓手机的主要盈利手段是销售应用软件和内容。如果其业务受到太多限制，它将无法再向手机制造商免费提供安卓系统。

Words in This Story

install –v. to put something such as a device or software in place so it can be used

merits –n. good qualities that deserve praise or use

consumers –n. people who buy and use goods and services

1 commissioner   

n.（政府厅、局、处等部门）专员，长官，委员

参考例句：

• The commissioner has issued a warrant for her arrest.专员发出了对她的逮捕令。
• He was tapped for police commissioner.他被任命为警务处长。

2 maker   

n.制造者，制造商

参考例句：

• He is a trouble maker，You must be distant with him.他是个捣蛋鬼，你不要跟他在一起。
• A cabinet maker must be a master craftsman.家具木工必须是技艺高超的手艺人。

3 makers   

n.制造者，制造商（maker的复数形式）

参考例句：

• The makers of the product assured us that there had been no sacrifice of quality. 这一产品的制造商向我们保证说他们没有牺牲质量。
• The makers are about to launch out a new product. 制造商们马上要生产一种新产品。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 trump   

n.王牌，法宝；v.打出王牌，吹喇叭

参考例句：

• He was never able to trump up the courage to have a showdown.他始终鼓不起勇气摊牌。
• The coach saved his star player for a trump card.教练保留他的明星选手，作为他的王牌。

5 aluminum   

n.(aluminium)铝

参考例句：

• The aluminum sheets cannot be too much thicker than 0.04 inches.铝板厚度不能超过0.04英寸。
• During the launch phase,it would ride in a protective aluminum shell.在发射阶段，它盛在一只保护的铝壳里。

6 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

7 technically   

adv.专门地，技术上地

参考例句：

• Technically it is the most advanced equipment ever.从技术上说，这是最先进的设备。
• The tomato is technically a fruit,although it is eaten as a vegetable.严格地说，西红柿是一种水果，尽管它是当作蔬菜吃的。