The European Commission has fined $1 billion for Google’s preferential treatment of its own services and anti‑steering practices that keep users in the Google Play store. The fine, 890 million euros, is the first under the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

The ruling cites Google’s search ranking bias – giving its own services top placement and enhanced visuals – and its refusal to let developers promote offers outside Google Play. The Commission also demands “fair and non‑discriminatory” search results and a 60‑day deadline for compliance.

Google has begun testing changes, and if it fails, periodic penalties could reach 5 % of its worldwide turnover, roughly $22 billion for Alphabet’s 2026 revenue. This follows a 2017 $2.7 billion fine for search manipulation and precedes Apple’s own DMA fine of $570 million in 2025.

The decision marks a new era of EU enforcement and could reshape how tech giants handle competition and consumer choice.