The European Union on Thursday hit Google with a fantastic of 890 million euros ($1 billion) after it said the technology behemoth broke digital antitrust regulations by establishing Google Play and its ubiquitous search engine to corral consumers towards its own services and apps to the detriment of competitors.
It was the most recent major crackdown on Big Tech by Brussels, which has led the world in reining in a few of the world’s largest corporations from Silicon Valley to Beijing.
It has done so despite the danger of incurring the wrath of U.S. President Donald Trump, who has lashed out on the 27-nation bloc’s digital regulations amid a broader campaign against Europe: imposing high tariffs, making threats to seize Greenland from Denmark by force, and rattling trust inside the NATO military alliance.
Prior to now, Trump has threatened retaliation if American tech corporations are penalized.
Google had recently lost its appeal of a $4.5 billion antitrust fantastic imposed by the EU for throttling competition and reducing consumer alternative through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system.
Get each day National news
Get each day Canada news delivered to your inbox so you may never miss the day’s top stories.
The European Commission, the bloc’s executive branch and highest antitrust enforcer, said it was acting within the interest of consumers after an investigation of Google.
“One of the best products should succeed because they’re higher, not because they’re owned by the corporate running the search engine. And European consumers have a right to be told by app developers where to enroll to the very best offers, even when the app store owner doesn’t get a cut,” said Teresa Ribera, the commission’s Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.
Google’s President of Global Affairs Kent Walker blasted the fantastic as “product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants” that could 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 quick pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.”
The EU describes the world’s seven tech giants — Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance — as “gatekeepers” that control access for consumers.
“Within the EU, businesses have the appropriate to compete fairly. Gatekeepers have the duty to make sure a level playing field and consumers the appropriate to decide on for cheaper alternative offers,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. Alphabet reported $403 billion in revenue in 2025.
© 2026 The Canadian Press