EU Issues Preliminary Antitrust Ruling Against Google

Google is facing preliminary antitrust charges from the European Union for allegedly favoring its own services, such as Shopping, Hotels, and Flights, over competitors in search results, a violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Additionally, the EU claims Google restricts app developers on its Play Store from directing customers to alternative distribution channels, which is seen as a breach of anti-steering rules. Google can contest these findings or implement changes before a final ruling, which could result in fines up to 10% of its global annual revenue, potentially reaching $35 billion based on its 2024 earnings. Google’s senior director of competition criticized the EU's demands as misguided, arguing that they could lead to higher costs for consumers and harm competition. EU officials have emphasized that the changes are necessary to ensure fair competition in digital markets. This scrutiny reflects a broader trend of regulatory challenges facing major tech companies in Europe.