The European Commission fined Google €890 million for violating the Digital Markets Act, accusing it of favouring its own services in Search and restricting app developers on Google Play. Google has 60 days to comply with the ruling or face additional penalties. The EU said the action aims to ensure fair competition and greater consumer choice across digital markets.
New Delhi: The European Commission on Thursday fined Google a combined 890 million euros ($1 billion) for violating the bloc’s digital competition rules, with regulators accusing the technology giant of favouring its own services and restricting competition in its app ecosystem.
The European Commission, the EU’s executive arm, imposed a 460 million euros penalty over Google’s search-related practices and another 430-million euro fine linked to its Google Play app store rules.
Google is required to comply with the Commission's decisions within 60 days, otherwise it risks periodic penalty payments of up to 5 per cent of its total worldwide turnover.
The Commission said in a statement that it found that Google gives preferential treatment to its own services, including shopping, hotels, transport and sports results, over those of third parties in Google Search, thereby breaching its obligations under the DMA.
