EU FINES GOOGLE €890M FOR DIGITAL MARKETS ACT BREACHES

The European Commission has fined Google €890m (£760m) for breaching the Digital Markets Act through its search engine and app store services. The Commission said Google prioritised its own services, including shopping and hotel deals, over those of rivals in search results. Google was also found to have prevented app developers from directing consumers towards cheaper offers on external websites or alternative app stores. The fine comprises €460m for the search-related breach and €430m for the app store violation.

The Commission has ordered Google to treat third-party services appearing in its search results in a "fair and non-discriminatory manner" and to allow app developers to promote offers outside Google's app store. Google has already begun testing changes to how it displays results featuring its own services such as shopping and flights, which the Commission described as "substantial progress towards compliance". The timing of the fine comes hours before temporary global tariffs against approximately 60 countries expire. An EU official stated the Commission had the "sovereign right" to regulate US technology companies in its jurisdiction and said the timing was not connected to tariff negotiations.

This represents the latest major enforcement action against Google by Brussels, which has led global efforts to regulate large technology companies. Google retains the right to appeal the decision and request interim measures, including suspension of the fine. One report noted that Google had previously lost an appeal of a $4.5 billion antitrust fine related to its Android mobile operating system.