The European Commission has fined Google €890 million under the Digital Markets Act for anti-competitive practices in Search and Google Play.
EU Fines Google €890 Million Under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission has imposed a total fine of €890 million (approximately $1 billion) on Google for violating the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), marking the company’s first penalties under the landmark legislation designed to promote fair competition in digital markets.The penalties comprise €460 million for giving preferential treatment to Google’s own services—including shopping, travel, hotels, and sports results—within Google Search, and €430 million for restricting app developers on Google Play from directing users to alternative purchasing options outside the Play Store. Regulators concluded that these practices limited consumer choice and placed competing businesses at a disadvantage.
Under the Commission’s decision, Google has 60 days to implement changes that ensure fair and non-discriminatory treatment of rival services and allow developers greater freedom to communicate alternative payment methods to users. Failure to comply could result in additional financial penalties. Despite the substantial fine, European regulators acknowledged Google’s ongoing cooperation and described discussions with the company as constructive. Officials noted that Google has proposed several compliance measures and continues to engage with regulators to align its products with the DMA’s requirements, potentially reducing the likelihood of further sanctions if adequate changes are implemented. Google criticized the Commission’s findings, arguing that the required changes could negatively affect user experience and make its services less useful for consumers and businesses. The company has indicated it may challenge the ruling through legal channels.
The decision represents another major milestone in the European Union’s efforts to regulate large technology companies and promote greater competition in digital markets. It also adds to Google’s long history of antitrust scrutiny in Europe, where the company has faced multiple competition-related investigations and billions of euros in cumulative fines over the past two decades.
