Bloco identified undue preference for its own services on Google Search and restrictions on app developers
The European Commission fined Google 890 million euros for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Regulation (DMA). In a note published this Thursday (23.Jul.2026), the agency said it had identified two distinct infractions: the company’s preference for its own services on Google Search and restrictions imposed on application developers on Google Play.
The infractions resulted in the imposition of two fines: one of R$460 million and another of R$430 million. Google can appeal the decisions. Here is the full statement, in English (PDF – 81 kB).
The investigation was opened on March 25, 2024. On March 19, 2025, the Commission communicated to Google its preliminary assessment that the company was in breach of the DMA.
The two decisions determine that Google ends irregular practices. THE big tech has 60 days to comply with the European Commission’s decisions. If the deadline is not met, the company will be subject to periodic fine payments.
The European Commission stated that it found that Google “gives preferential treatment to its own services, including shopping, hotels, transport and sports results”violating the DMA’s determination that platforms must not treat their own services more favorably than those of third parties in search results.
“Google presents its own services more prominently in search results, including at the top of the results page or through the use of enhanced visuals and filters, while similar third-party services do not have the same prominence”reads the statement.
The 2nd case involves the targeting rules applied in the app store. Under the DMA, developers who distribute apps via Google Play must be able to inform their customers, free of charge, about alternative, often cheaper, offers and direct them to these channels to complete purchases, whether on websites or in other application stores.
The European Commission pointed out that Google prevented developers from communicating, promoting and entering into contracts with users on the distribution channels of their choice, including third-party app stores. While the company may charge a fee for initially acquiring new customers via Google Play, the amount and period for which these fees are charged were found to be incompatible with the DMA.
According to the European Commission, Google has already started testing changes to the way it presents its own services on Google Search. The European body said it is evaluating changes proposed by the company for shopping ads and content-related services such as sports.
Google has also made proposals for how it intends to apply the ruling principles to AI Overviews and AI Mode. Changes related to targeting rules on Google Play have also been implemented and will be evaluated in light of the compliance order issued.
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Source: https://www.poder360.com.br/poder-internacional/comissao-europeia-multa-google-em-890-milhoes-de-euros/
