EU, huge fine of 890 million to Google for violation of the Digital Markets Act

The EU Commission has imposed a huge fine of 890 million euros on Google for violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA)ascertained in the period March 2024 – December 2025. This is the highest fine ever imposed for violation of the DMA. In 2025, Apple had been fined 500 million euros.

Brussels accuses the group of having favored its services in Google Search results and of having limited the possibility for developers to direct users to alternative purchasing channels outside of Google Play (steering). In the first case, Google was fined for 430 million euros for preventing app developers from promoting offers and contracting with users on alternative websites or app stores. In the second, a fine from 460 million euros concerns the preference given to one’s own vertical search services – such as flights and hotels – over those of competitors, with a direct impact on visibility in search results. The decision finds that giving greater visibility to its services amounts to preferential treatment of Google’s services, which is in violation of the DMA.

The reasons for the sanction and the giant’s adaptation

The goal of this action is to ensure that third-party services, which have offers as good as Google’s and which are not inferior in terms of content and substance, have a fair chance of being found by users, and that users get the best result available on the Google search engine, and not just the service owned by Google.

The Commission orders Google to put an end to the non-compliance and to ensure fair and non-discriminatory treatment of third party servicesas well as allowing developers to communicate freely, promote offers and stipulate contracts even outside the Play Store. Google has 60 days to comply, under penalty of periodic fines of up to 5% of global revenue.

Brussels, in today’s decision, recognizes that Google has already started experimenting with changes to the presentation of its services on Google Search and the conditions applied to developers, but specifies that such interventions will be evaluated in light of the termination order. The fines were calculated taking into account the severity and duration of the violations.