The European Commission announced on Thursday that it has fined Google approximately $1 billion for alleged antitrust violations. The commission determined that Google manipulated search results to favor its own services and restricted app developers from directing customers to alternative payment options outside of the Google Play store. This action marks the first time Google has been penalized under the European Union's Digital Markets Act.
The total fine consists of roughly $524 million for search-related violations and $490 million for Play store practices. In addition to the monetary penalty, the commission ordered Google to treat third-party services in a fair manner within search results and to allow app developers to communicate offers directly to users. Google has been given 60 days to comply with these mandates, though the commission noted that the company has made "substantial progress" in its proposed changes.
Google contested the ruling, stating that the required adjustments would negatively affect its products. Kent Walker, Google’s president of global affairs, said the company is being forced to remove real-time features and dismantle safety protections. Conversely, European tech sovereignty chief Henna Virkkunen stated the decision demonstrates the EU's commitment to using regulatory tools to ensure fair competition.
The penalty follows a warning from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer regarding fees imposed on American technology firms and precedes expected U.S. tariffs. This is the latest in a series of legal challenges for Google in the EU, following a $3.5 billion fine related to ad-tech services in 2025 and a recently upheld $4.5 billion fine involving the Android operating system.