The European Commission attacks Google again. Brussels has imposed two fines on the Mountain View giant for a total of 890 million euros for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), the European regulation designed to limit abuses of dominant positions by large digital platforms. This is the highest economic fine imposed so far under the new regulation, in a decision that risks reigniting tensions between the European Union and the United States over the regulation of Big Tech.
In detail, the Commission imposed a fine of 460 million euros for the way in which Google managed the results of its search engine and a second of 430 million euros for the practices adopted within the Google Play Store against application developers.
Why Google was fined
According to the European executive, Google would have continued to favor its own services in online search results, ensuring greater visibility than its competitors for platforms such as Google Shopping, services dedicated to hotels, transport and sports results. A practice which, according to Brussels, limits competition and reduces the possibilities for users to access alternative offers.
The second complaint concerns the Google Play Store. The Commission believes that the company has imposed restrictions on app developers, preventing them from freely informing users about the possibility of purchasing subscriptions or content through alternative, often more convenient channels, or through third-party stores.
Furthermore, for Brussels, the commissions requested by Google from developers even when purchases were concluded outside the Play Store were excessive both in size and duration, exceeding what was allowed by the Digital Markets Act.
Sixty days to adapt
Google will now have to comply with the Commission’s decisions within 60 days. Failure to do so risks further periodic fines of up to 5% of the company’s global daily turnover.
Among the measures requested by Brussels is the obligation to guarantee fair and non-discriminatory treatment to competing services in search engine results. On the Play Store front, however, Google will have to allow developers to freely promote external offers and conclude contracts with users even outside the platform.
The changes already underway and the artificial intelligence node
However, the European Commission has recognized some progress made by Google. Brussels has taken note of the changes introduced in the presentation of some free services and commercial advertisements in search results, specifying that it will continue to monitor their effectiveness within the DMA.
The European executive also accepted the proposals put forward by the company for the application of European rules to new tools based on artificial intelligence, such as AI Overviews and AI Mode, which will remain under observation.
The investigation was opened on March 25, 2024 and has now reached its conclusion. Google will be able to appeal the decisions before the judges of the European Union.