EU Hits Google With €890M Fine Over Anti-Competitive Search and App Store Practices
The Imposition of the Fine Is Expected to Trigger New Friction in Brussels–Washington Relations, as It Was Announced Hours Before the Deadline for Implementing Temporary American Tariffs on Roughly 60 Countries.
EU Imposes €890M Penalty Under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission imposed a total fine of €890 million on Google, ruling that it breached competition rules set out under the Digital Markets Act (DMA) across both its search engine and its app store.
€460M Penalty for Search Engine Self-Preferencing
According to the Commission's decision, Google granted preferential visibility to its own services, such as shopping, hotels, and other travel options, over competing services in search results. For this violation, a fine of €460 million was levied.
€430M Fine for Play Store Steering Restrictions
In parallel, the company was penalized an additional €430 million because, through its app store, it prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper offers available on external websites or alternative app stores.
Mandated Operational Changes for Fair Competition
The European Commission demanded that Google treat third-party services appearing in search results in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, while simultaneously obligating the company to allow app developers to promote offers outside its own ecosystem.
Testing Underway as EU Sees Progress Toward Compliance
The Commission noted that Google has already begun testing changes to how search results are displayed for services like shopping and flights, evaluating these moves as "substantial progress" toward compliance with European requirements.
Consumer Impact and Transatlantic Trade Friction
An official from the European Commission maintained that consumers will be the primary beneficiaries of the decision, as search results across Europe will become more diversified and Google will have to adapt the operation of its search engine.
The imposition of the fine is expected to provoke new reactions in relations between Brussels and Washington, as it was announced just hours before the expiration of the deadline for applying temporary US tariffs affecting around 60 nations. However, a senior European official emphasized that the decision is unconnected to the tariff issue, pointing out that the European Union retains the sovereign right to regulate the operation of American tech companies within its territory.
