EU Fines Google €890 Million for Violating Digital Markets Act
The fine is the first major enforcement action under the Digital Markets Act, signaling that the EU is willing to use its new regulatory powers to penalize gatekeepers for self-preferencing and anti-steering practices.
Key Facts
- The European Commission fined Google €890 million (approximately ¥166 billion) on July 23, 2026, for violating the Digital Markets Act.
- The fine is split into €460 million for Google Search and €430 million for Google Play.
- The Commission found that Google Search gave preferential treatment to its own services in shopping, hotels, transportation, and sports.
- The Commission determined that Google Play prevented app developers from informing users about cheaper purchasing options outside the store.
- Google must comply with the Commission's decision within 60 days or face periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its worldwide daily turnover.
Reporting from 2 sources: ASCII.jp, GIGAZINE.
The European Commission on July 23 imposed a total fine of €890 million (approximately ¥166 billion) on Google for violating the Digital Markets Act. The fine is split into two parts: €460 million for Google Search and €430 million for Google Play. The Commission found that Google Search gave preferential treatment to its own services in categories such as shopping, hotels, transportation, and sports by displaying them at the top of results or using proprietary filters, placing them at an advantage over competing services. On Google Play, the Commission determined that Google prevented app developers from informing users about cheaper purchasing options outside the store, such as their own websites or other app stores. The Commission acknowledged that Google may charge a fee for acquiring new customers but said the amount and duration exceeded what the DMA permits. Google must comply within 60 days or face periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its worldwide daily turnover. The decision marks the first major enforcement action under the DMA, which took effect in 2023 and designates large platform operators as gatekeepers with specific obligations.
The European Commission's Competition Policy Senior Vice President Teresa Ribera said: "Good products should succeed because they are good, not because they are owned by the company running the search engine." She added that European consumers "have the right to be informed by app developers about the best offers, even if the app store operator does not receive a commission." Senior Vice President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy Henna Virkkunen stated: "The two decisions we have taken today confirm our determination to apply the DMA to protect business and innovation."
The Commission found that Google Search favored its own services in shopping, hotels, transportation, and sports by displaying them at the top of results, highlighting them, or using proprietary filters. On Google Play, the Commission determined that Google manipulated search results to place its own apps higher, prevented developers from notifying users of sales, and blocked them from making purchase proposals on websites or other apps.
The Commission requires Google to implement two measures: treat third-party services in Google Search results in a fair and non-discriminatory manner, and enable app developers to freely communicate with users through Google Play, promote offers, and enter into contracts. If Google does not comply within 60 days, it may face periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its worldwide daily turnover.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 2 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.