EU Fines Google $1 Billion for Prioritizing Its Services in Search

The European Commission he is to be paid penalty of $ 1 billion against Google on the forecast competition law breaking the law.

The EC investigation found that Google had misused its authorityThe European Unionce you are searching for software storage markets to help people with their software and services, in violation of European Union law. Digital Markets Act.

The organization has ordered Google to stop providing special services to its services that, such as shopping, accommodation, transportation, and air travel – search. Google should also allow developers to interact with users outside of the Play Store, where they live he takes a sales job.

Teresa Ribera, vice president of the EC, said Teresa Ribera. “Users in Europe have the right to be told by software developers to sign up to receive the best deals, even if the owner of the store is not cut off.”

In a statement to WIRED, Google said it would consider making the decision.

“This is not a fair competition; it is a waste of resources driven by a small group of claimants, European businesses and consumers are participating,” says Kent Walker, President of Global Affairs at Google.

Technology trade organizations argue that the DMA’s aggressive push is self-defeating. “Decreasing the income of Europeans is not a good result,” Daniel Friedlaender, senior vice president at trade association CCIA Europe, tells WIRED.

The EU has brought more many billions fine against Google over the past decade for violating antitrust laws. In early July, the European Court earned a fine of $4.1 billion was brought against Google in 2018 over agreements that required phone makers to install Google Search and the company’s Chrome web browser on their devices.

Kathryn McMahon, a professor of law at the University of Warwick, said: “Of course, the problems are very serious for companies. From the point of view of EU competition law, companies with a significant role – such as Google – have a special responsibility not to distort competition.”

To address the latest complaints, Google has proposed changes to the way it manages the Play Store and offers its products in search rankings, which the EC says is “a step forward in compliance.”

Recently, US President Donald Trump vowed to introduce new tariffs to European countries that want to ban American technology companies. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.

The latest sanctions are “a strong response, in terms of transatlantic complaints – how Trump can increase the fines,” says McMahon. “It shows that the Commission wants to be tough.”