The European Commission has fined US tech giant Google (Alphabet) a total of €890 million (about $1 billion) for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). This marks the first major financial penalty imposed on Google under the landmark EU legislation.
The Commission issued two separate decisions. Google was fined €460 million for self-preferencing its own services in Google Search results, and a further €430 million for restrictive practices on Google Play that limited app developers’ ability to steer users toward alternative offers.
According to the regulator, Google breached core obligations required of designated “gatekeepers.” In its search results, the company systematically gave preferential treatment to its own services — including shopping, hotels, transport, and sports results — over those of competitors. Google’s offerings appeared more prominently, often at the top of the page and with enhanced visuals and filters, while similar third-party services were denied comparable visibility.
On Google Play, the Commission found that Google prevented app developers from freely informing users about cheaper alternative purchase options (such as websites or rival app stores) and from completing transactions outside Google’s ecosystem. While Google is allowed to charge a fee for initially acquiring a customer through its store, the Commission ruled that both the level of these “steering” fees and the length of time they applied went beyond what the DMA permits.
The Commission has ordered Google to end the non-compliant practices within 60 days. Failure to do so could result in daily penalty payments of up to 5% of the company’s global turnover. Regulators noted that, after constructive discussions, Google has already begun testing changes to how it displays its own services in search and to its Google Play rules. These steps are viewed as meaningful progress, though a final assessment is still ongoing.
The investigations were launched in March 2024. In March 2025, Google received the Commission’s preliminary findings of infringement. The company retains the right to appeal against the decisions in court.
The size of the fines reflects the seriousness and duration of the breaches. The Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2024, seeks to promote fair competition in Europe’s digital markets and to limit the market power of the largest technology platforms.