Google is set to face charges from the European Commission for breaching EU regulations designed to limit the power of Big Tech. This follows the company's failure to adequately address concerns raised by the EU antitrust regulator and its rivals regarding changes to its search results. The investigation, ongoing since March of the previous year, focuses on whether Google prioritizes its own vertical search engines, such as Google Shopping and Google Flights, over competitors and discriminates against third-party services in search results.
Tensions have arisen with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has criticized EU regulations and fines, leading to speculation that the EU may ease its stance on Big Tech. Google has made several attempts to modify its search result formats to satisfy various stakeholders, including price-comparison sites and retailers, but these changes have largely been deemed non-compliant with the Digital Markets Act (DMA).
The DMA prohibits Google from favoring its own products and services, with potential fines reaching up to 10% of its global annual revenue for violations. The charges against Google are expected to be formalized following decisions on separate investigations into Apple and Meta Platforms, which are further along in the process. Additionally, another investigation into Google is examining restrictions that may prevent app developers from informing users about offers outside the Google App Store.
