The European Commission has imposed a total fine of 890 million euros on Google for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The Brussels authorities announced on Thursday that Google was penalized for favoring its own services within Google Search and for restricting businesses that directed consumers toward alternative purchasing channels on Google Play.
The initial decision levied a fine because Google allegedly prioritized its own services-such as shopping, hotel, travel, and sports results-in Google Search. The Commission found that Google displays its in-house services more prominently in search results, while comparable third-party services do not receive the same level of visibility.
The second decision concerns a penalty aimed at Google’s practices that limited app developers. These developers were previously expected to be able to inform and guide customers toward external or alternative offerings. However, Google reportedly prevented app developers from freely communicating offers or concluding contracts with users through distribution channels of their choice.
The Commission has mandated that Google rectify the non-compliance within 60 days and take steps to treat third-party services fairly and grant greater freedom to app developers. Failure to comply risks the corporation facing supplementary penalties of up to five percent of its global annual turnover.
Vice President of the European Commission, Teresa Ribera, stated, “Google has not complied with the effective implementation of the Digital Markets Act, and today we have taken firm yet balanced enforcement measures to sanction these breaches.” Henna Virkkunen, another EU Commission Vice President, added that these two rulings confirm the EU’s determination to apply the Digital Markets Act to protect both businesses and innovation. “Today’s decisions send a clear signal: we will not hesitate to use our instruments to secure the business and innovation opportunities of the DMA.”
