The European Union has imposed a fine of €890 million ($1 billion) on Google for breaching competition laws pertaining to online searches and its Play Store, as reported by AFP. This penalty marks the largest sanction issued by Brussels under the European Digital Markets Act (DMA), a robust regulation aimed at curbing the abuse of market dominance by tech giants.
Specifically, Google faces a fine of €460 million for preferential treatment of its own services in Google Search results. An additional fine of €430 million was imposed for restricting developers using its Play Store from directing customers to alternative app stores.
“This is a very important decision,” said Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s Vice President responsible for digital affairs, emphasizing the need to ensure fair competition conditions for all online businesses.
Google Criticizes Decision
The American tech giant has criticized the ruling, asserting that it could lead to a decline in services valued by internet users. “To comply, we are forced to remove real-time search features that Europeans appreciate, such as displaying real-time prices and direct availability of hotels, flights, and restaurants, as well as removing security protections from Google Play,” stated Kent Walker, Google’s President of Global Affairs.
This latest sanction could intensify tensions between the EU and Washington, with the Trump administration previously alleging that European digital regulations unfairly target American tech companies. In this context, 25 Republican lawmakers wrote to Donald Trump this week, urging him to take retaliatory measures against the EU if it continues to impose “laws, policies, or practices that discriminate in the digital sector.”
Teresa Ribera, the European Commissioner for Competition, emphasized, “We have a duty to ensure that the laws enacted by our sovereign institutions are fully applied and respected.”
EU Investigation Findings
Following an investigation that began in 2024, Brussels concluded that Google had favored its own price comparison services for flights and hotels in its search engine, disadvantaging competitors.
The European Commission also accused Google of practicing “anti-steering” within Google Play, a DMA-prohibited practice that prevents developers from promoting other app stores. The company has already proposed or implemented measures to comply with the DMA and must adhere to this ruling within 60 days, or face additional fines.
Google disputes these findings, claiming that its enriched search results cater to user demand and criticizing how the DMA is implemented by Brussels. “This is not about fair competition but rather a degradation of products driven by a small group of complainants motivated by their interests, to the detriment of European businesses and consumers,” Walker asserted, adding that “the regulation should enhance products, not reduce their quality.”
