The European Union has fined Google $1 billion (€890 million) for violating digital antitrust rules under the Digital Markets Act, the bloc's new competition law aimed at curbing the power of big tech platforms.
The Digital Markets Act
The Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2023, imposes a set of obligations on large online platforms designated as “gatekeepers.” These include requirements to allow business users to access data generated on the platform, to refrain from self-preferencing, and to ensure interoperability with rival services. Google, which operates the Android operating system and the Google Search engine, is one of the companies subject to the DMA's rules.
The law is part of a broader EU effort to ensure fair competition in digital markets. It gives regulators the power to fine companies up to 10% of their global annual revenue for non-compliance, and up to 20% for repeat violations.
The fine
The $1 billion penalty — equivalent to €890 million — is the first major enforcement action under the DMA. The European Union said the fine was imposed for breaches of the DMA's antitrust provisions, though it did not specify the exact conduct that triggered the penalty.
The fine comes as the EU intensifies its oversight of big tech. The bloc has previously taken action against Google under older competition rules, but the DMA gives regulators a broader set of tools to address anticompetitive behavior before it becomes entrenched.
Google has not publicly responded to the fine. The company can appeal the decision to the European Court of Justice, a process that could take years.
