European Commission Fines Google €890 Million for Digital Markets Act Violations

The European Commission has fined Google a total of €890 million for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The sanctions include a €460 million penalty for favoring its own services in search results and a €430 million fine for restricting app developers from directing users to alternative payment channels outside the Google Play Store.

Preferential Treatment in Google Search Results

The European Commission determined that Google violated DMA rules prohibiting “gatekeepers” from giving their own services more favorable treatment than those of competitors. According to the Commission, Google displayed its own results for shopping, flights, hotels, and sports more prominently than third-party alternatives.

The regulator found that Google didn’t just prioritize the order of links, but also used advanced graphical elements, filters, and interactive formats that were unavailable to competitors. These specific modules often occupy privileged positions on the search page, allowing users to filter or compare information directly through Google’s own tools. The Commission stated this setup limits the ability of competing platforms to reach users under equal conditions.

To resolve these violations, Google must modify the functionality of Search to ensure third-party services are treated comparably to its own. The Commission noted that Google has already begun testing changes to the presentation of free services for shopping, hotels, and flights, which the regulator views as a significant step toward compliance.

Restrictions on Google Play Steering

The second penalty stems from Google’s management of the Play Store. Under the DMA, app developers must be allowed to inform users—free of charge—about alternative, often cheaper, offers and direct them to external websites or digital stores to complete purchases.

The Commission concluded that Google failed to fully meet this obligation. The regulator found that Google’s conditions limited the ability of developers to promote external channels and conclude contracts outside of Google Play. These restrictions also affected the use of competing app stores, reducing developer freedom in distributing services and managing transactions.

Regarding the financial aspect of these restrictions, the Commission’s note states that while Google may receive a commission for facilitating the initial acquisition of a customer, “the entity of the commissions of steering charged by Google and the duration of the period of charging such commissions have exceeded what is considered compliant with the DMA.”

Compliance and Future Monitoring

Google is currently implementing changes to its “steering” policies to allow better direction of customers toward external channels. While the Commission describes these interventions as a step forward, they remain under formal review to ensure they meet the legal requirements to cease the violations.

The European Commission will continue to verify the application of these changes across both search results and the Play Store ecosystem. This includes ongoing tests regarding commercial advertisements and informative content, specifically in the sports sector.