The European Commission has fined Google, claiming
it breached the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The fine of €890.00 is equivalent to approximately $1.013 billion based on a mid-market exchange rate of roughly 1.1389
USD per Euro as of July 24, 2026, but the amount could fluctuate, depending on the exchange rate provider.
The record fine will mean the dismantling of preferential treatment for Google’s
advertising and content services in Europe, mandating structural changes to advertising, search, and app ecosystems. The structure could spread to the U.S. in the future.
The EU found that
Google gives preferential treatment to its own services including shopping, hotels, transport and sports results, over those of third parties in Google Search, breaching its obligations under the
DMA.
advertisement
advertisement
The decision was made public on Thursday. It comes at an interesting time, as President Trump imposes new EU tariffs. The administration has criticized the EU for
what it deems a disproportionate enforcement against American technology companies.
Under the DMA, app developers that distribute their apps via Google Play should be able to inform customers
free of charge of alternative, often cheaper, offers, and to direct them to those offers to make purchases, for example on websites or alternative app stores, according to the EU, but the Commission
found Google failed to comply with that obligation. It applies to companies designated as “gatekeepers.”
EU designated Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, ByteDance, Meta, Microsoft
gatekeepers under the DMA in 2023. Then in April 2024, the EU added Apple to the list.
Under the DMA guidelines from September 2023, “gatekeepers” must provide at least one
pre-defined set of digital services, and not treat their own services more favorably in ranking than third-party services. They must apply transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions to
such ranking.
Google indicated to the EU Commission it will work to implement changes as to how it presents its own services, “shopping ads,” and “content related
services.”
The EU Commission issued two fines. When separating them, the fines come to €460 million for favoring its own services like shopping ads or hotel-booking services,
and €430 million for apps store for restricting developers from freely communicating, prompting, or linking users to less expensive purchase alternatives outside of Google Play.
