EU Fines Google €890 Million for Breaching Digital Markets Act
European regulators issued two separate fines against the tech giant on July 23, 2026, citing illegal self-preferencing in search results and anti-steering practices on its app store.
The European Commission announced on Thursday it has fined Google a combined €890 million (approximately $1 billion) for non-compliance with the European Union's landmark Digital Markets Act (DMA). The decision addresses findings that the company illegally favoured its own services and restricted competitors.
The penalty is divided into two distinct violations of the DMA, a comprehensive law designed to ensure fairness and contestability in the digital sector. The first fine, amounting to €460 million, targets Google for giving preferential treatment to its own services—such as those for shopping, hotels, and transport—within its search results. Regulators found that Google displayed its services more prominently, using enhanced visuals and top placement, disadvantaging third-party rivals.
App Store Restrictions
A second fine of €430 million was issued for what the Commission calls "anti-steering" rules on the Google Play app store. The investigation concluded that Google unlawfully prevented app developers from informing users about alternative and often cheaper purchasing options available outside of the Google Play ecosystem, such as on the developers' own websites.
In a statement, Executive Vice-President Teresa Ribera said, "The best products should succeed because they're better, not because they're owned by the company running the search engine." She added that the DMA aims to protect "fairness, choice and innovation in digital markets for the benefit of all European citizens."
Compliance and Consequences
Google, which was officially designated a "gatekeeper" under the DMA in September 2023, now has 60 days to end its non-compliant practices. Failure to adhere to the order could lead to further periodic penalties of up to 5% of the company's average daily worldwide turnover.
Kent Walker, Google's president of global affairs, criticized the decision, arguing that the regulation would lead to "product degradation" and harm European businesses and consumers. The company is reviewing the ruling and may appeal. The Commission acknowledged that Google has already started testing changes to its search result displays, calling it "substantial progress towards compliance."
Sources
- US Top News and Analysis — Google slapped with $1 billion fine under landmark EU digital law
- Google slapped with $1 billion fine under landmark EU digital law
- Commission fines Google €890 million for breaches of the Digital Markets Act
- EU fines Google €890m for competition breaches over search and apps
- Google hit with $1 billion EU fine, in 'constructive' talks to avoid more penalties
- The High Stakes Behind the EU's €890M Google DMA Fine
- EU fines Google $1 billion for search, app store antitrust violations
- Europe Hits Google With $1 Billion Fine For Boxing-Out Rivals
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