EU Fines Google $1 Billion Over Search and Play Store Rules
Quick Reads
- The European Commission fined Google roughly $1 billion for breaching the Digital Markets Act.
- The penalty splits into $524 million for search violations and $490 million for Play Store restrictions.
- Regulators say Google favoured its own services over rivals in search rankings.
- Google must overhaul its search ranking system and Play Store rules within 60 days.
- Google argues the changes will degrade its products and hurt European consumers and businesses.
EU fines Google close to $1 billion after finding the tech giant broke the bloc’s Digital Markets Act. The European Commission announced the penalty on Thursday, splitting it between two separate infringements. Regulators say Google manipulated search results to disadvantage competing services. They also found the company restricted app developers from directing users toward cheaper deals outside its Play Store.
The commission ordered Google to change how it ranks rivals in Search. It also demanded reforms to how the company runs its Play Store. Roughly $524 million of the fine covers Google’s search violations, while $490 million addresses Play Store issues. Google now has 60 days to bring both practices into compliance.
These mark the first penalties Google has faced under the Digital Markets Act, following similar rulings against Apple and Meta last year. Still, Brussels left room for negotiation. The commission described Google’s proposed search adjustments as “substantial progress towards compliance,” and called its Play Store changes “good progress.” Officials said they would continue discussions with Google about how the decision might affect its AI Overviews and AI Mode features.
Teresa Ribera, the commission’s executive vice president overseeing competition policy, defended the ruling in a statement. She said better products should win on merit rather than ownership advantages. Meanwhile, tech sovereignty chief Henna Virkkunen said the decision sends a clear signal that Brussels will act when needed.
Google pushed back firmly. In its official response, the company said complying would mean removing features Europeans rely on, including real-time pricing for hotels and flights. It also warned the changes could weaken safety protections within the Play Store.
The dispute lands at a tense moment. It arrives just a day before the White House is expected to announce fresh tariffs, and follows recent warnings from U.S. trade officials urging the EU to ease pressure on American tech firms. Google has racked up several EU antitrust penalties in recent years, including a $3.5 billion fine last September over its ad-tech business. The company is widely expected to appeal this latest decision as well.
