Google Hit with Another Trillion-Dollar Fine in Europe for Abusing Market Dominance

The European Union (EU) has imposed a fine of 890 million euros (approximately 1.5 trillion won) on Google for violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA). On the 23rd (local time), the EU finalized the penalty, stating that Google hindered fair market competition by visually prioritizing its own shopping and travel services in search results and restricting app developers from guiding users to cheaper external purchase options within Google Play. The EU set the fine at 460 million euros for preferential treatment in its search engine and 430 million euros for restrictive practices in Google Play operations.

The EU ordered Google to implement corrective measures within 60 days and warned that failure to comply could result in penalty payments of up to 5% of its global turnover.

Google pushed back, arguing that compliance would require the removal of real-time search features and the dismantling of security measures, thereby degrading product quality and harming European consumers. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) also criticized the EU, accusing it of targeting U.S. firms and undermining transatlantic trade stability.

Google recently lost a case at the European Court of Justice (ECJ) regarding a 7 trillion won fine imposed in 2018 for Android operating system (OS) monopolization. With this DMA violation, Google has received the largest sanction ever imposed by the EU.