Alphabet-owned Google has been fined €890 million ($1 billion) by the European Union for breaching new rules designed to curb the market power of Big Tech companies.
The European Commission announced the penalty on Thursday, marking the first major enforcement action under the bloc’s landmark digital competition rules.
The fine reflects the EU’s determination to stop dominant technology firms from using their market position to squeeze out rivals, despite criticism from the United States and threats of retaliatory tariffs.
While Google has been hit with a hefty penalty, the company may avoid additional sanctions for now. EU regulators said the tech giant has made significant progress in bringing its business practices into line with the new rules and acknowledged its ongoing efforts to comply with the legislation.
The Digital Markets Act, which targets the largest online platforms, is intended to promote fair competition by preventing gatekeeper companies from abusing their dominance across digital markets.
The decision signals that Brussels is prepared to strictly enforce the new law as it seeks to reshape competition in the technology sector.
