Google hit with EU fine and US app store opening amid antitrust scrutiny

The European Commission is set to issue its first Digital Markets Act (DMA) penalty against Google, potentially up to €1 billion, for allegedly favouring its own services in search results and preventing app developers from directing users to alternative stores. Italy’s communications regulator AGCOM has already fined Google €750,000 for hosting gambling‑related videos on YouTube, a decision the company is challenging under EU e‑commerce liability rules. In the United States, a federal judge ordered Google to allow competing app stores to be listed inside Google Play, ending its exclusive distribution model; Google will charge alternative store operators an annual fee of $5,000 and must keep the platforms open to all qualified developers. A Swedish court has imposed a $15.4 billion antitrust penalty on Google for abuse of dominance in a price‑comparison service, which Google is now appealing. Meanwhile, Google’s AI division disclosed further postponement of its flagship Gemini 3.5 Pro model, releasing lighter “Flash” versions instead.

Additional Google‑related updates include a new privacy‑focused card in Android Contacts that lets users control which personal details are shared. These developments reflect mounting regulatory and competitive pressure on the tech giant across several jurisdictions.