Commission fines Qualcomm for predatory pricing
On 24 January 2018 the Commission fined Qualcomm 997 million euros for predatory pricing. A later court annulled that decision in 2022. In the causal graph this event weakens Antitrust Pressure in Digital Markets, a driver that strengthens Out-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global) — an improving welfare path.
Read the full account
On 24 January 2018 the Commission fined Qualcomm 997 million euros for predatory pricing. A later court annulled that decision in 2022. The pair is a completed enforcement attempt plus a judicial loss.
Who was responsible
Contribution type and responsibility level for each recorded actor — not sole-author shorthand.
Margrethe Vestager
PersonDirect responsibility
responsibility level 0.6 · verified
She owned the 2018 fine. The court later found the analysis insufficient. The loss is on her docket.
What changed
Fact → Driver → Indicator. Relationship strength orders the paths; it is not the observed indicator movement.
- FactCommission fines Qualcomm for predatory pricing
- weakensDriverAntitrust Pressure in Digital Markets
- strengthensIndicatorOut-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global)
impact weight 0.35 · Effect from 18 July 2018 · verified
Annulment of a flagship chipset fine reduced, for a period, expected predation enforcement in components.
Strengthens · Relationship strength 0.14 (weight 0.35 × strength 0.4)
Observed
11% of primary-school-age children · 11 above the normal line (2023)
Worse than normalAbove normal = worse
Evidence
The sources behind this fact and its verification state.
- 1.Reuters — EU court annuls Qualcomm antitrust fineReuters · High credibility · verified
- 2.Commission — Qualcomm predatory pricing decisionEuropean Commission · High credibility · verified
Causal path
How this event connects to drivers and indicators in the graph.
- ActorMargrethe Vestager
- contributed toFactCommission fines Qualcomm for predatory pricing
- weakensDriverAntitrust Pressure in Digital Markets
- strengthensIndicatorOut-of-School Rate, Primary School Age (global)
Cite this page
Factrail. (2026). Commission fines Qualcomm for predatory pricing. Factrail. https://factrail.ai/facts/eu-qualcomm-predation-2018
https://factrail.ai/facts/eu-qualcomm-predation-2018
Accessed 15 October 2026.
By the Factrail desk · Method: how we source and score · Last reviewed
Dispute this factNamed here, or represent someone who is? Request a right of reply.