EU fines Google €890m for breaching competition laws on search and app store

By Anna Wise, Press Association Business Reporter

Google has been fined €890 million by the EU for breaching its laws including by giving more prominence to its own services such as shopping, hotels and sports scores in search results.

The European Commission, which is the EU’s executive arm and enforces competition rules, handed out two separate fines worth €460 million and €430 million.

It said it found two cases of non-compliance, one for self-preferencing on Google Search, and another for preventing the steering of customers towards potentially cheaper services on Google Play.

Google breached the Digital Markets Act by giving preferential treatment to its own services, including shopping, hotels, sports results and transport, over those of other firms in Google Search, according to the commission.

https://x.com/EU_Commission/status/2080243945691390049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

It did this by displaying them more prominently in search results, such as by bumping them up to the top of the page or by using enhanced visuals and filters, which others do not get.

The commission also found that Google prevented app developers from offering cheaper offers to customers in the Google Play app store.

The fine marks the latest big crackdown from the Brussels-based commission which has been taking enforcement action across the big tech industry.

Google recently lost its appeal against a €4.1 billion fine imposed by the EU for limiting competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system.

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

“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 been contacted for comment.