EU Commission fines Google €890 million under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission has levied a total fine of €890 million on Google for breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The penalty is divided into two parts: €460 million for giving preferential treatment to its own services such as Google Shopping, flights and hotels in search results, and €430 million for preventing app developers from informing users about cheaper payment options outside the Google Play Store. The sanction, described as historic by consumer group Assoutenti, is the first fine imposed under the DMA, which entered into force in 2024 to curb the market power of large online platforms.
Google has said it will appeal the decision before the EU’s General Court. Analysts note that the fine also reflects a growing digital‑sovereignty rivalry between Brussels and Washington, with the DMA seen as a tool for the EU to shape global digital rules.
The enforcement action is expected to affect Google’s business practices across the European Union and could influence how other big‑tech firms operate under similar regulations worldwide.
Entities: Digital Markets Act · European Commission · Gabriele Melluso · Google (Alphabet Inc.) · Google LLC · Heritage Foundation
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The €890 million fine is the first sanction imposed under the Digital Markets Act. (EU Commission)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Digital Markets Act, adopted in 2024, aims to curb the market power of large online platforms. (EU legislation)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Google may appeal the decision before the EU General Court. (Google)
- [● 2 SOURCES] €460 million of the fine is for Google’s self‑preferencing in search results. (EU Commission)
- [● 2 SOURCES] €430 million of the fine is for restricting developers from informing users about cheaper payment options outside Google Play Store. (EU Commission)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The fine is part of a broader US‑EU digital‑sovereignty competition. (Paul McCarthy, Heritage Foundation)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The European Commission imposed a fine of €890 million on Google under the Digital Markets Act. (EU Commission)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Consumer group Assoutenti called the sanction a historic victory for European consumers. (Assoutenti)