Trump administration challenges EU's Digital Markets Act enforcement
Trump administration criticizes EU's Digital Markets Act amid escalating enforcement actions.
Event / Technology
EU Tech Regulation Enforcement
European Commission imposes €890 million fine on Google for Digital Markets Act violations involving search self-preferencing and Google Play steering. Part of broader EU enforcement wave against major tech companies including Apple and Meta, with over €10 billion in Google fines since 2017. Trump administration threatens tariffs in response.
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2026-08-15 to 2026-11-12 · UTC publication dates
Coverage begins 24 Jul, 01:28 UTC
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What happened
Google's search engine gave preferential treatment to its own services
The European Commission found that Google violated the Digital Markets Act by giving greater prominence to its own shopping, hotel, transport, and sports services in search results while placing competing businesses lower on the page. Google failed to apply transparent, fair, and non-discriminatory ranking conditions as required by law.
European Commission fines Google €890 million for Digital Markets Act violations
The European Commission imposed a total fine of €890 million ($1 billion) on Google for breaching the Digital Markets Act. The fine comprised €460 million for favoring Google's own services in search results over competitors, and €430 million for restricting app developers from directing customers to alternative purchasing channels outside Google Play. Google was ordered to end these practices within 60 days or face additional penalty payments of up to 5% of its total worldwide turnover.
Digital Markets Act took effect in 2024 targeting major tech platforms
The Digital Markets Act, which took effect in 2024, requires the world's largest tech platforms including Apple, Google, Amazon, and Meta to open up their services to competitors or face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue. The legislation identifies these companies as 'gatekeepers' controlling access to core platform services.
Trump administration criticizes EU's Digital Markets Act
The Trump administration has criticized the EU's Digital Markets Act, stating that the legislation unfairly targets U.S. technology companies. The administration weighed new tariffs on EU imports in response to the regulatory enforcement against American tech firms.
Apple and Meta previously fined under Digital Markets Act
The European Commission previously fined Apple €500 million for blocking app developers from steering customers to purchasing options outside its App Store, and Meta €200 million for its pay-or-consent advertising model that did not offer users a genuine, less data-intensive alternative. Both companies challenged the fines at the EU's General Court with appeals filed in July 2025.
Google restricted developers from promoting alternative payment options in Google Play
The European Commission found that Google prevented app developers distributing through Google Play from freely communicating with users about alternative offers, including lower-priced options, and from directing users to complete purchases outside Google's app store. The Commission ordered Google to allow developers to promote offers and conclude contracts both within and outside Google Play Store.
Google has been fined over €10 billion by EU regulators since 2017
Google has accumulated more than €10 billion in fines from European Union regulators since 2017, including the €890 million penalty issued on July 23, 2026. The most recent fine before this was €4.1 billion for forcing phone manufacturers to pre-load only Google products.
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EU fines Google €890 million for Digital Markets Act breaches
EU fines Google €890 million for Digital Markets Act violations in search and payments.