Google Faces EU Charges Over Digital Markets Act Violations

The European Commission has charged Google with breaching landmark EU regulations, marking another escalation in its crackdown on Big Tech. The charges accuse Google of restricting competition on its Google Play Store and favoring its own services in search results, potential violations of the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The Commission alleges that Google prevents app developers from freely steering users toward better deals outside of Google Play, imposing service fees that regulators say go beyond reasonable limits. Additionally, the tech giant is accused of promoting its own services—such as Google Shopping, Google Flights, and Google Hotels—over rivals in search results, a move that the EU believes stifles fair competition.

The case adds to Google’s long history of regulatory battles in Europe. The company has already been fined over €8 billion in previous antitrust cases and could face penalties of up to 10% of its global annual revenue if found guilty of violating the DMA.

The ruling also comes amid tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has threatened retaliatory tariffs against countries imposing heavy fines on American firms. Google, meanwhile, has argued that some businesses, including airlines and hotels, have raised concerns over the impact of the DMA on their industries.