Digital Markets Act aims to boost fair competition

EU technology chief Henna Virkkunen said the decision aims to encourage greater competition and allow other companies to innovate. The penalties were issued under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), which seeks to limit the influence of major technology companies and promote fair competition in the digital sector.

Google challenges EU decision amid wider trade tensions

Google rejected the EU’s findings, arguing that the regulations could reduce product quality and weaken safety measures. The company said it was being forced to remove features from its services in Europe and described the decision as unfair competition.

The fines come amid ongoing trade tensions between Brussels and Washington, with US officials previously accusing the EU of unfairly targeting American technology firms. However, EU officials defended the enforcement action, saying the bloc remains committed to applying its digital regulations.

The latest penalties add to billions of euros in previous EU fines against Google for competition-related violations, as regulators continue efforts to address the market dominance of major technology companies.