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EU Fines Google £759M For Search and App Store Practices

Elizabeth Greenberg

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google eu fine
Google was fined for two separate instances of using its market dominance for self-preferencing. 

The EU has issued two fines totalling 890m euro (£759m) to Google for breaching regulations concerning market regulation in its search results.

The European Commission found two counts of non-compliance from Google concerning market regulations, issuing the tech giant two separate fines: one for £392m and the other for £367m.

One of the fines was for self-preferencing Google’s own services on Google Search, whereas the other charge concerned Google Play blocking customers from being steered toward cheaper options.

Google was found to break the Digital Markets Act by propping up its own services – from shopping to transport and hotels – above competitors in search results. It did this through physically preferencing Google services at the top of the page, or by enhancing visuals for Google options which are not done for rival choices.

Google Play also was found to have stopped app developers from offering cheaper alternatives to users.

“Google must now bring the non-compliance to an end and to refrain from continuing it in the future,” Henna Virkkunen, the European Commission’s executive vice president for tech sovereignty, security and democracy, said.

“Today’s decisions send a clear message: we will not hesitate to use our tools to safeguard business and innovation opportunities opened up by the Digital Markets Act.”

Google has already shot back at the EU ruling in a statement, with Kent Walker, president of the global affairs for Google and Alphabet saying: ” “This implementation of the Digital Markets Act continues to break everyday products.

“To comply, we are having to strip away real-time Search features Europeans love – like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants – and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.


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“This isn’t fair competition; it’s product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants, with European businesses and consumers taking the hit.

“Regulation should improve products, not make them worse.”

The tech giant will have 60 days to comply with the market regulations, but may delay this by contesting the ruling in a legal suit.

Elizabeth Greenberg

Staff Writer

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