The European Union on Thursday imposed a fine of 890 million euros ($1 billion) on Google, finding that the technology giant violated digital antitrust regulations by configuring Google Play and its search engine to steer consumers toward its own services and apps at the expense of competitors.

The penalty marks the latest in a series of major enforcement actions by Brussels against Big Tech, as the EU has positioned itself as the global leader in reining in the world's largest technology companies from Silicon Valley to Beijing. Google alone has now accumulated more than €8 billion in EU antitrust fines over the past decade, spanning its shopping comparison service, Android operating system, and advertising technology business.

The move comes despite the risk of angering President Donald Trump, who has criticized the 27-nation bloc's digital regulations as part of a broader campaign against Europe that has included imposing high tariffs, making threats to seize Greenland from Denmark by force, and straining trust within the NATO military alliance. Trump has previously threatened retaliation when American tech companies face penalties from the EU.

Google recently lost its appeal of a separate $4.5 billion antitrust fine imposed by the EU for stifling competition and limiting consumer choice through the dominance of its Android mobile operating system.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive body and top antitrust authority, stated it was acting to protect consumer interests following an investigation into Google's practices.

"The best products should succeed because they're better, not because they're owned by the company running the search engine. And European consumers have a right to be told by app developers where to sign up to the best offers, even when the app store owner does not get a cut," said Teresa Ribera, the commission's Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

Google's President of Global Affairs, Kent Walker, condemned the fine, calling it "product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants" that would harm European businesses and consumers. He argued that the EU's Digital Markets Act compels Google "to strip away real-time search features Europeans love — like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play."

The Digital Markets Act, which took full effect in 2024, gives regulators sweeping authority to impose conduct changes and periodic penalty payments on companies that fail to comply with its requirements.

The EU designates seven global tech giants — Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft, and TikTok owner ByteDance — as "gatekeepers" that control consumer access to digital services.

"In the EU, businesses have the right to compete fairly. Gatekeepers have the obligation to ensure a level playing field and consumers the right to choose for cheaper alternative offers," said European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier.

Alphabet reported $403 billion in revenue in 2025.