The European Union has fined Google €890 million (£759m/$1bn) for breaching digital antitrust rules by favouring its own services in Search and Google Play, prompting a sharp US trade warning and a pledge from a top EU lawmaker that more US action should be expected.
EU hits Google with €890m fine over search and app store rules
The European Commission on Thursday imposed an €890 million penalty on Google after finding the company broke the bloc’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) by steering users of Google Play and its search engine towards its own services and apps at the expense of rivals. As reported by Al Jazeera, the fine is part of a major crackdown on Big Tech by Brussels, which says it is seeking to ensure fair competition. The Washington Post reported that EU regulators said Google set up Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers towards its own services and apps to the detriment of competitors.
A second EU official told reporters the fines were worth 0.22 per cent of Google’s turnover, underscoring the scale of the company’s global revenues relative to the penalty. The commission warned the fines could rise further if Google fails to comply within 60 days, threatening “periodic penalty payments” for continued non-compliance.
US trade chief warns fine creates uncertainty for EU‑US deal
The US government hit back at Brussels after the European Commission slapped on Thursday a €890 million fine against Google for breaching the bloc’s Big Tech rules, with the US Trade Representative saying the fine “creates uncertainty” for a prospective EU‑US trade deal. As reported by AOL, the US government’s response framed the penalty as a complicating factor in transatlantic trade negotiations.
25 US lawmakers urge Trump to act against EU tech rules
Tensions have been building for weeks. As reported by Foo Yun Chee of Reuters, a group of 25 US lawmakers wrote to US President Donald Trump on 21 July urging him to act against EU tech rules and suggesting trade probes into the bloc’s regulatory regime. The letter, cited by Reuters, signals mounting political pressure in Washington to respond to what some American legislators view as discriminatory or disproportionate EU enforcement against US technology firms.
EU can fine up to 10% of global turnover under DMA
The EU can slap fines of up to 10 per cent of a company’s total global turnover for breaching the DMA, the legal framework that designates certain platforms as “gatekeepers” and imposes strict conduct obligations. The €890 million penalty follows earlier DMA sanctions against other gatekeepers: the EU imposed penalties of €200 million and €500 million against Meta and Apple respectively in 2025.
Google’s long EU antitrust history: €4.1bn Android fine upheld
The latest fine comes shortly after a major court defeat for Google in Luxembourg. As reported by Bloomberg and Reuters, on 2 July the European Court of Justice dismissed Google’s appeal against a €4.1 billion antitrust fine for abusing Android’s market power, upholding a 2022 ruling that trimmed the original 2018 penalty from €4.34 billion. Judges said Google’s agreements forced phone manufacturers to pre‑install Google Search, Chrome and Google Play, and prevented them from using rival systems, thereby shutting out competitors.
Over the last decade, Google has racked up close to €11 billion in EU fines for various antitrust infringements, according to Reuters. In 2017, the Commission fined Google €2.42 billion for using its shopping comparison service to gain an unfair advantage over smaller rivals; Google lost an appeal against that in 2021. In September 2024, Google successfully contested a €1.49 billion antitrust fine for obstructing competitors in online search advertising, while a week prior it lost an appeal against a €2.42 billion fine for favouring its own comparison shopping service. France’s competition authority in March 2024 fined Google €250 million for violations related to EU intellectual property regulations in its dealings with media publishers.
EU lawmaker: “Expect more action from the US after the Google fine”
As reported by Euronews, German Socialist MEP Bernd Lange, the European Parliament’s trade chief, told the broadcaster that he hopes the new US tariffs will be challenged and warned that more US action should be expected after the Google fine. His comments came amid a broader surge in transatlantic trade friction, with US President Donald Trump imposing a new wave of tariffs on trading partners, including the EU, with levies ranging between 10 and 12.5 per cent.
What happens next: 60‑day compliance window and possible higher penalties
The commission said Google has 60 days to comply with the DMA requirements, and warned that failure to do so could trigger “periodic penalty payments” that would increase the overall financial exposure. The regulator has emphasised that its focus is on achieving compliance rather than merely enforcing penalties, a point reiterated by commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier in an earlier statement reported by Reuters.
Google’s response: DMA changes hurt European users, company says
Google has previously expressed concerns about the effects of the EU’s regulations on its search platform and has indicated a desire to resolve ongoing disputes. As reported by Reuters, a company spokesperson stated: “The adjustments we have already implemented in Search under the DMA represent the most significant reduction in the product’s history, resulting in a subpar experience for Europeans to benefit a select few self‑serving complainants.” Earlier this month, the European Commission announced it had granted Google a bit more time to address concerns after a prior proposal from the company did not meet expectations.
Broader EU crackdown on Big Tech continues
The fines are the biggest in total against one company under the DMA, after the EU slapped penalties of €200 million and €500 million against Meta and Apple respectively in 2025. European regulators have launched a series of investigations into Big Tech in recent years, including a December announcement of an antitrust probe into whether Google was violating EU competition regulations by utilising content from publishers and for artificial intelligence applications. On 5 September, the Commission levied a €2.95 billion antitrust penalty against Google for engaging in anti‑competitive practices within its advertising technology sector. In December, X was fined €120 million by EU tech regulators for violating online content regulations, marking the first sanction under the Digital Services Act.
