Factor — Google has come under the scrutiny of the European Commission, receiving an €890 million fine for violating the Digital Markets Act. Regulators found that the company gave undue advantages to its own services within its search engine and restricted Google Play users from accessing alternative and more affordable payment methods.
Under the European Commission's decision, the fine has been split into two parts—€460 million and €430 million—corresponding to different types of violations. The regulator emphasized that the best products should succeed in the market based on their quality, rather than because they belong to the company operating the platform.
According to current legislation, major platforms acting as "gatekeepers" are not permitted to promote their own services at the expense of competitors. Google, however, has consistently displayed its hotel and shopping services in more favorable positions through the use of specific visual tools and filters. Furthermore, the company hindered app developers by preventing them from informing consumers about cheaper offers available on other platforms.
The Commission has given Google 60 days to rectify these issues. If the company fails to comply with these requirements, it faces additional fines reaching up to 10% of its total global annual turnover. It is worth noting that Google's parent company, Alphabet Inc., recorded a turnover of over $400 billion in 2025 alone.
European officials have sent a clear message that they will not hesitate to use all available levers to protect fair competition and innovation in the digital sphere. This is not the first such move against Google, as the company was fined €2.95 billion just a year ago for abuses in the online advertising sector. Google currently has the right to appeal these decisions in court.
