EU imposes €890 million fine on Google for antitrust violations
The European Commission fined Google €890 million, accusing the company of favoring its own services in search and the Play Store, which it says harms competition and consumers.
The European Commission announced a €890 million ($1 billion) penalty against Google, concluding that the company breached the bloc’s digital antitrust rules by giving preferential treatment to its own services in its search engine and Google Play store. The investigation found that the practices steered users toward Google-owned apps and services, limiting choices for competitors.
Commission Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition Teresa Ribera said, "The best products should succeed because they’re better, not because they’re owned by the company running the search engine. And European consumers have a right to be told by app developers where to sign up to the best offers, even when the app store owner does not get a cut."
Google’s President of Global Affairs Kent Walker responded that the fine reflects "product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants" and warned it could negatively affect European businesses and consumers. He added that the EU’s Digital Markets Act forces Google to remove real-time search features such as instant pricing for hotels, flights and restaurants, and to dismantle safety protections on Google Play.
The Commission’s action is part of a broader effort to regulate large technology firms, which it classifies as “gatekeepers” that control market access for consumers.