Google fined €890 million by the European Commission for breaching the Digital Markets Act (DMA) over its practices on Google Search and Google Play. The Commission issued two separate fines of €460 million and €430 million, finding that Google had failed to comply with the DMA’s rules on self-preferencing and steering.
The decisions concern how Google ranks its own services in search results and how app developers can communicate alternative offers to users through Google Play.
Google Fined Over Self-preferencing on Google Search
The Commission found that Google breached the DMA by giving preferential treatment to its own services, including shopping, hotels, transport and sports results, compared with third-party services appearing in Google Search.
Under the DMA, designated gatekeepers are required to treat their own services and third-party services fairly and without discrimination in search rankings.
According to the Commission, Google gives its own services greater prominence by placing them at the top of search results or displaying them with enhanced visuals and filters. The Commission said similar third-party services do not receive the same level of prominence.
The Commission’s decision requires Google to treat third-party services featured in its search results in a fair and non-discriminatory manner compared with its own services.
The Commission also noted that Google has proposed and started testing changes to the way it presents its own services on Google Search, including free services covering shopping, hotels and flights. The Commission said these changes represent substantial progress towards compliance and will be monitored.
Google has also proposed and started testing changes involving shopping ads and content-related services, including sports. The Commission is assessing these changes and will continue discussions with the company. The dialogue will also cover Google’s proposals for applying the principles of the decision to AI Overviews and AI Mode.
Google Play Restrictions Lead to Second Fine
The second decision concerns Google’s anti-steering practices on Google Play.
Under the DMA, app developers distributing apps through Google Play must be able to inform customers about alternative, often cheaper offers at no cost. Developers should also be able to direct users to make purchases through other channels, including websites and alternative app stores.
The Commission found that Google failed to meet these requirements. It said Google restricted app developers from freely communicating and promoting offers and from concluding contracts with users through distribution channels of their choice, including third-party app stores.
The Commission acknowledged that Google can charge a fee for facilitating the initial acquisition of a new customer by an app developer through Google Play. However, it found that the level of Google’s steering-related fees and the length of time those fees were charged went beyond what is considered compliant with the DMA.
Google has since rolled out changes related to its steering terms. The Commission said these changes represent good progress towards compliance but will be assessed in light of the cease and desist order issued as part of the decision.
Digital Markets Act Enforcement Brings Compliance Deadline
As part of the two decisions, the Commission has ordered Google to end the identified non-compliance. The company must implement measures addressing both search rankings and its anti-steering rules.
Google is required to comply with the Commission’s decisions within 60 days. If it fails to do so, it could face periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its total worldwide turnover.
The fines take into account the gravity and duration of the non-compliance. The Commission said it also considered the recurrence of the breaches and concluded that the fines were proportionate and appropriate.
Google may appeal the decisions.
Commission Investigations Began in 2024
Google was designated as a gatekeeper in September 2023 for its online search engine, Google Search. On 25 March 2024, the Commission opened non-compliance investigations into Google’s measures addressing self-preferencing and its steering rules.
On 19 March 2025, the Commission informed Google of its preliminary view that the company was in breach of the DMA. Google subsequently exercised its rights of defence by reviewing the documents in the Commission’s investigation files and responding in writing to the preliminary findings.
The two decisions followed a detailed investigation that included feedback from market participants and extensive dialogue with Google.
The Commission said the decisions demonstrate its continued enforcement of the DMA and its focus on protecting fairness, business opportunities, consumer choice and innovation in digital markets.
