EU Fines Google €890M Over DMA Violations | 60 Days to Fix Search Self-Preference and Play Store Restrictions
TL;DR
The European Commission fined Google €890M for violating the DMA; Google has 60 days to fix self-preferencing in search and restrictions on developers directing users out of the Play Store.
The European Commission announced Google is fined €890 million for violating EU rules. Google has 60 days to treat competitors fairly and allow app developers to direct users away from its app store.
Two specific violations: one, Google unfairly favored its own search services — placing Google Shopping, Flights, Hotels and other proprietary vertical searches at the top of general search results; two, preventing app developers from directing consumers to offers outside its Play Store — meaning in-app links pointing users to "cheaper subscription on the official site" were blocked. This is the second US giant convicted in the DMA's first enforcement round after Apple.
EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera: "Google failed to effectively comply with the Digital Markets Act. Today we took decisive and balanced enforcement action to sanction these violations. The best products should succeed because they are better, not because they belong to Google."
The €890M fine is manageable for Google, but changing Play Store and Search UI within 60 days is the real pain point — the latter requires global backend logic changes, not just Europe-only patches.
via Cailian / Bloomberg
Two specific violations: one, Google unfairly favored its own search services — placing Google Shopping, Flights, Hotels and other proprietary vertical searches at the top of general search results; two, preventing app developers from directing consumers to offers outside its Play Store — meaning in-app links pointing users to "cheaper subscription on the official site" were blocked. This is the second US giant convicted in the DMA's first enforcement round after Apple.
EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera: "Google failed to effectively comply with the Digital Markets Act. Today we took decisive and balanced enforcement action to sanction these violations. The best products should succeed because they are better, not because they belong to Google."
The €890M fine is manageable for Google, but changing Play Store and Search UI within 60 days is the real pain point — the latter requires global backend logic changes, not just Europe-only patches.
via Cailian / Bloomberg
