Google fined €890 million by EU over Digital Markets Act violations
Alphabet-owned Google has been fined a total of €890 million (around $1 billion) by the European Commission for violating the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA), marking the company's first penalties under the landmark legislation aimed at curbing the dominance of Big Tech.
Despite the hefty fines, EU regulators indicated that Google has made meaningful progress toward complying with the DMA, reducing the likelihood of additional financial penalties in the near future.
The latest action highlights the EU's continued push to ensure fair competition in the digital market, even amid criticism and tariff threats from the United States.
Two separate fines
The European Commission imposed two penalties on Google:
€460 million for favouring its own services—including shopping, hotels, transport and sports—in Google Search results over those of competitors.
€430 million for Google Play policies that prevented app developers from directing users to cheaper offers available through rival app stores or their own websites.
These are Google's fifth and sixth antitrust penalties from the EU over nearly two decades, bringing the company's total fines in Europe to €10.38 billion.
EU: Competition must remain fair
Responding to criticism from the US, European Commission Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera defended the bloc's decision.
"Our duty and obligation is to comply with the laws, that our laws are fully respected."
European Commission Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen said the objective of the DMA is to ensure a level playing field.
"The DMA is to make sure we have a fair and level playing field. With these decisions we want to make sure there is competition."
Google may challenge the decision
Google has been given 60 days to comply with the Commission's orders by treating rival services fairly in search results and allowing app developers to direct users to alternative payment options and app stores.
The company criticised the ruling and indicated it could appeal.
Kent Walker, Google's President of Global Affairs, argued that complying with the EU's requirements could negatively affect products used by European consumers.
"To comply, we are having to strip away real-time Search features Europeans love—like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights and restaurants—and dismantle safety protections on Google Play."
He added:
"This isn't fair competition; it's product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants, with European businesses and consumers taking the hit. Regulation should improve products, not make them worse."
Further penalties unlikely for now
Although Google has been fined, the Commission acknowledged the company's ongoing efforts to comply with the DMA through what it described as a "constructive dialogue."
According to the regulator, Google has already begun testing changes to how it displays its own services in Search, including shopping, hotels, flights and sports-related content.
The Commission also noted that Google's proposed revisions to its Google Play rules regarding developer steering represent "good progress" toward compliance.
EU officials said they will continue evaluating these changes while maintaining discussions with the company.
The regulator also indicated that the principles outlined in Thursday's decision could eventually extend to Google's AI-powered Search features, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, with further talks planned on those services.
Growing tensions with the US
Europe's aggressive regulation of major technology companies has drawn criticism from US President Donald Trump's administration, which has accused the EU of unfairly targeting American firms and has threatened retaliatory tariffs.
The latest penalties are the third fines issued under the Digital Markets Act, following enforcement actions against Apple and Meta last year.
