EU Fines Google €890 Million for Violating Digital Markets Regulation
The European Commission has imposed a total fine of €890 million on Google for breaching the EU’s Digital Markets Regulation. The penalties stem from two separate violations, with the company accused of favoring its own services in search results and restricting app developers' ability to communicate with customers.
The first fine, amounting to €460 million, was issued because Google allegedly prioritized its own services—such as Google Flights, Google Hotels, and other vertical search tools—over third-party results in its search engine. Yle reports that the Commission found Google’s practices violated rules requiring gatekeepers to treat all services equally, as competitors’ results were given less visibility.
The second fine, totaling €430 million, relates to restrictions imposed on app developers within the Google Play store. According to Ilta-Sanomat, Google prohibited developers from directing users to cheaper offers or alternative payment methods outside its platform, effectively limiting their ability to communicate freely with customers.
Commission Demands Changes Within 60 Days
Commissioner for Digital Affairs Henna Virkkunen stated that the decision sends a clear message: the EU will enforce its regulations to protect fair competition. "Google must now end its non-compliance and refrain from continuing it in the future," she said, emphasizing the Commission’s commitment to upholding the Digital Markets Regulation.
The Commission noted that Google has engaged in "constructive dialogue" and has begun exploring modifications to its search functions and app store policies to comply with EU rules. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the development of Google’s AI capabilities in line with the decision.
Google has 60 days to adjust its practices. If it fails to comply, the Commission may impose daily penalty payments of up to 5% of Alphabet’s global daily turnover—approximately €48 million per day based on current figures.
Previous Fines and Potential Appeal
This latest penalty follows a recent EU Court of Justice ruling that upheld a €4.125 billion fine against Google for anti-competitive practices related to the Android operating system (Ilta-Sanomat).
Google has the option to appeal the Commission’s decision.