EU hits Google with $1 billion fine over its Play app store and search

It was the latest major crackdown on Big Tech by Brussels, which has led the world in reining in some of the world’s largest companies from Silicon Valley to Beijing. It has done so despite the risk of incurring the wrath of President Donald Trump, who haslashed out at the 27-nation bloc’s digital regulationsamid a broader campaign against Europe: imposing high tariffs, making threats to seize Greenland from Denmark by force, and rattling trust within the NATO military alliance. lashed out at the 27-nation bloc’s digital regulations In the past, Trump has threatened retaliation if American tech companies are penalized.

Google had recently lost its appeal of a$4.5 billion antitrust fineimposed by the EU for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system. The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch and highest antitrust enforcer, said it was acting in the interest of consumers afteran investigation of Google. Google’s President of Global Affairs Kent Walker blasted the fine as “product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants” that will have a negative impact on European businesses and consumers.

He said that the EU’s Digital Markets Act forces Google “to strip away real-time search features Europeans love — like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.” The EU describesthe world’s seven tech giants— Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance — as “gatekeepers” that control access for consumers. “In the EU, businesses have the right to compete fairly. Gatekeepers have the obligation to ensure a level playing field and consumers the right to choose for cheaper alternative offers,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. Alphabet reported$403 billion in revenuein 2025.