The European Commission has imposed a fine of 890 million euros, approximately $1 billion, on Google for breaching antitrust rules in the search market and the Google Play Store. This penalty marks the first major enforcement action under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), designed to ensure fair competition in the digital sector. The tech giant must now implement corrective measures within 60 days or face additional penalties of up to 5 percent of its annual global turnover.
DMA Violation: Favoring Own Services in Search Results
According to the Commission's investigation, Google abused its dominant position in search by giving preferential treatment to its own vertical services such as Google Shopping and Google Hotels over those of competitors. The regulator found that Google treated third-party services in a discriminatory manner, breaching Article 6 of the DMA. The fine for this practice amounts to 460 million euros. The Commission ordered Google to implement measures ensuring fair and non-discriminatory treatment of all services appearing in search results, including those of third parties.
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Google Play Store Restrictions: Commission Steps In
The second part of the fine, totaling 430 million euros, addresses restrictions imposed on app developers distributing via Google Play Store. The Commission determined that Google prevented developers from communicating and offering users alternative payment methods outside the Play Store, forcing them to use Google's billing system. This practice limited competition and consumer choice. Going forward, Google must allow developers, both technically and contractually, to freely communicate, promote offers, and conclude contracts with users inside and outside the Android app store.
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Corrective Measures and Threat of Additional Penalties
The Commission acknowledged that Google has already made substantial progress toward compliance, testing new ways to display shopping ads and related services such as sports. However, the company has 60 days to fully comply with the decisions. Non-compliance could result in periodic penalty payments of up to 5 percent of total worldwide turnover, which exceeded $400 billion last year. Google may appeal the decisions to the European Court of Justice. Meanwhile, the company has reportedly proposed and started testing changes to how it presents shopping ads and sports content, as reported by various outlets.
Parallel with Apple and European Litigation
Google's case is not isolated. Apple was fined 500 million euros last year for similar App Store restrictions, preventing developers from directing users to alternative offers. Earlier this month, the EU General Court rejected Apple's challenge to its designation as a gatekeeper for the App Store and iOS. Both companies continue to face regulatory scrutiny from the EU, which aims to dismantle anti-competitive practices in the digital market. For more on Google's recent moves, read about Google introducing selfie video for account recovery. Today's fine sets an important precedent for DMA enforcement and could influence future decisions regarding other tech giants.
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For further information on the Digital Markets Act, see the Wikipedia page.
Source: https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/23/google-fined-1-billion-by-eu
