EU Fines Google €890m for Search and App Store Competition Breaches
EU fines Google €890M for competition breaches over search and apps
The European Commission has imposed a record €890m fine on Google for violating the Digital Markets Act. The penalty addresses two key breaches: prioritizing Google's own shopping and hotel services in search results over rivals, and blocking app developers from steering users to cheaper alternatives outside the Google Play Store. The regulator has ordered Google to treat third-party services fairly and allow developers to promote offers on external platforms.
Research results will be in different in Europe, they will have to adapt their search engine going forward.
- input_sh
PDFs of decisions in case somebody wants to learn more:
Google Search decision: https://ec.europa.eu/competition/digital_markets_act/cases/2...
Android decision: https://ec.europa.eu/competition/digital_markets_act/cases/2...
- cadamsdotcom
It'd be great if they put the headline in terms of how many minutes of revenue this is.
- dlahoda
Article has no reference how exactly fine was reasoned to be specific amount. Nor specific examples of violations.
- baridbelmedar
The EU as a whole is walking a tightrope. Its largest economies still depend heavily on the US market. If the current US regime perceives that US companies are being targeted by EU "taxes", regardless of whether those laws are legitimate, there is a real danger of US retaliation.
Key sectors could take the hit, including automotive manufacturing, industrial equipment, chemicals, electronics, fashion, textiles, and luxury food and wine.
Given that these nations are already managing high debt loads while funding generous social welfare programs and expanding their defense budgets, trade sanctions could cause serious damage...
So yeah...EU is performing a delicate balancing act here.
- granzymes
At this point I assume Google is just budgeting for a $1B annual tax for operating in the EU.
- maelito
I hope these fines will fund NLNet.
- cmiles8
For Google this is just like parking tickets to UPS. A cost of doing business in town.
- timpera
The lengthy legal battle against these fines is going to be extremely interesting, especially on the Shopping/Hotels/Flights side since it is an extremely competitive market. I wonder if the lower EU court will keep its overly proactive approach despite the CJEU's reversals.