Problems continue for Google. The European Commission is preparing a fine of hundreds of millions of euros
The European Union plans to fine Alphabet-owned Google hundreds of millions of euros as part of an antitrust investigation, German newspaper Handelsblatt reported on Monday, citing Commission sources, according to Reuters.
The decision is almost finalized and is expected to be announced before the summer break, according to the German publication, which describes it as the biggest sanction imposed by the EU for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The legislation is meant to limit the power of big tech companies.
The investigation, which was officially launched in March 2025, comes amid concerns that Google is favoring its own services in search results. Authorities are trying to ensure that the platform owned by Alphabet, the world's most popular internet search engine, complies with local regulations.
The commission is more interested in ensuring compliance than imposing penalties, spokesman Thomas Regnier said in an emailed statement.
“Even with our negotiations on future solutions, we will not hesitate to move on to the next steps as soon as possible,” he added.
The company's reaction
Google has criticized the impact of the EU rules on its search engine and says it is keen to settle the case.
“The changes we've already made to Search within the DMA are the biggest downgrade in the product's history, creating a second-rate experience for Europeans for the benefit of a few selfish claimants,” a company spokesperson said.
The European Commission announced this month that it had given Google more time to respond to concerns, after an earlier proposal from the company was deemed insufficient.
The company's practices have been the subject of several investigations and legal proceedings in the EU, Britain and the United States, AFP wrote on May 7 in an article reporting that Google is facing a new lawsuit in the United Kingdom, accusing it of abusing its dominant position in online advertising and seeking up to 3 billion pounds (3.5 billion euros) in damages.
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