Google has been issued two fines by the European Commission for violating the DMA, totaling 890 million euros.
The European Commission is not pulling any punches with Google. It has determined that Google committed not one, but two violations of the DMA. Consequently, Google is being hit with two fines that together add up to an amount of 890 million euros.
A first violation concerns the self-preferencing of its own services within the search engine. For example, if you search for information about flights, you will be redirected to Google Flights sooner than to an external website. According to the laws of the DMA, comparable services must be given a fair chance. Google failed to do so, and is therefore being fined 430 million euros by the Commission.
Fines in installments
The tech giant also failed to behave properly regarding Google Play. According to the Commission, Google makes it too difficult for developers to inform consumers about offers outside of its own app store. The Commission considers this once again to be the favoring of its own services, and so Google is being issued an additional fine, this time of 460 million euros. Add both amounts together and you reach 890 million euros.
The Commission is being strict because it wants to send a clear signal to tech giants like Google. The DMA came into effect nearly three years ago to penalize anti-competitive behavior by major players. As a ‘gatekeeper,’ Google falls under the strictest rules. After three years of the DMA, it has become clear that only fines can bring tech companies to their senses. If Google does not make adjustments within sixty days, additional penalty payments will be added to the fixed amount.
Fighting a losing battle
Whether Google will drastically change its methods remains to be seen. The European Union must constantly remind Google of its obligations under the DMA. For instance, it recently received a non-voluntary request to share search data and to open up the Android ecosystem to external AI assistants. Google likes to use operating systems such as Android as a billboard for Gemini.
Despite the good intentions of the DMA, sanctions always arrive only after the harm has been done. Furthermore, Google does not hesitate to use its legal remedies in the fight: it recently managed to delay a 2018 fine by eight years (ultimately in vain). It is a losing battle for the EU.