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Brussels fines Google €890 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act

On July 23, the European Commission adopted two non-compliance decisions under the DMA against Google: one for its search engine and one for Google Play.
July 23, 2026
Curated Maximum

What it says

  • €460 million for self-preferencing: Google gives more visibility in its search engine to its own shopping, hotel, transport, and sports results services, at the very top or with visual elements and filters that third-party services do not have.
  • €430 million for Google Play: it prevents developers from freely communicating cheaper offers and closing sales on other channels, including third-party stores.
  • Google may charge for the initial acquisition of a customer through Play, but the Commission considers that the amount and duration of its fees for redirecting to other channels exceed what the DMA allows.
  • Google has 60 days to comply; otherwise, it faces periodic penalty payments.
  • The Commission takes note of the changes Google is already testing in its search engine and in its Play terms, and of its proposals to apply the decision's principles to AI Overviews and AI Mode.

How it has evolved

Thread: The Digital Markets Act (DMA), in action. European Commission decisions and European rulings that specify the obligations of gatekeepers (Apple, Google, Meta…) under the DMA.

Full press release IP/26/1670 (PDF): ec.europa.eu

The Tech Guardian summarizes and comments in its own words on third-party publications. The full information belongs to the original source, which we recommend you read.

Our take

What matters for the market is not the fine but the last point: Brussels is extending the logic of self-preferencing to the AI-generated answers of the search engine. If your business depends on Google traffic (retail, travel, comparison sites), follow how it applies to AI Overviews. If you sell apps, check whether you can already steer your customers to cheaper payment channels.

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