Brussels – Google has breached the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is why the European Commission is imposing a fine of 890 million on the internet giant. The total amount stems from two separate decisions, both finding that the internet giant had acted unlawfully, specifically in relation to its practice of favouring its own services on Google Search (self-preferencing) and for imposing restrictions on businesses seeking to direct consumers towards alternative purchasing channels on Google Play (steering). These are two unfair and illegal practices that have resulted in two separate fines, one of 460 million euros and another of 430 million euros. Total: 890 million.
The DMA expressly stipulates that gatekeepers must not treat their own services more favourably in ranking than third-party services. On the contrary, they have to apply transparent, fair and non-discriminatory conditions to such ranking. Conversely, the Commission 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, thereby breaching its obligations under the Digital Markets Act. Also under the same EU legislation, app developers who distribute their applications via Google Play should be able to inform customers, free of charge, of alternative offers – which are often cheaper – and direct them to those offers to make purchases, for example on alternative websites or app stores. In this case as well, the Commission found that Google failed to comply with this obligation.
The EU Commission’s statement follows the investigation launched on 25 March 2024, which was followed the next year by a formal notice of rule violations and the announcement of in‑depth checks. Today’s decision (23 July) was therefore expected, and comes as something of a surprise.
“Google has fallen short of effective compliance with the Digital Markets Act, and today we have taken decisive yet balanced enforcement action sanctioning these breaches,” said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President responsible for a Clean, Fair and Competitive Transition. Google, however, disagrees and is challenging the decision, announcing its intention to appeal. “This implementation of the DMA continues to harm everyday products,” said Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google & Alphabet. “To comply, we are forced to strip away real-time search features Europeans love – like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants – and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.” Well, “this is not fair competition; it is product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants, at the expense of European businesses and consumers.” Therefore, he insists, “regulation should improve products, not make them worse.”
English version by the Translation Service of Withub
