European Commission Fines Google €890 Million for Search and Play Store DMA Violations

The European Commission has fined Google €890 million ($1 billion) for violating the European Union's Digital Markets Act. According to the Commission's decision published on July 23, 2026, Google favored its own services in Google Search and limited how app developers could direct users to lower-cost purchase options outside Google Play.

The fine includes €460 million for search self-preferencing and €430 million for app store steering practices. Google must end these violations within 60 days or risk periodic penalty payments of up to 5% of its worldwide turnover.

Google may appeal the decision. The Commission acknowledged that Google is testing changes to both practices and considers these efforts substantial progress toward compliance.

Commission Details Google’s DMA Violations

The Commission determined that Google favors its own services, such as shopping, hotels, transport, and sports results, over third-party offerings in Google Search. The DMA requires gatekeepers to treat third-party services fairly in search rankings instead of prioritizing their own.

The sThe second violation involves Google Play. The Commission found that Google restricts app developers from freely communicating offers and concluding contracts with users through their preferred distribution channels, including third-party app stores.

This limits developers' ability to direct users to lower-priced purchase options outside Google's payment system.le was designated a gatekeeper for Google Search in September 2023, and the Commission opened non-compliance investigations in March 2024.

"Google has fallen short of effective compliance with the Digital Markets Act, and today we have taken decisive yet balanced enforcement action sanctioning these breaches," said Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

"The best products should succeed because they're better, not because they're owned by the company running the search engine. And European cons…