EU Prepares to Fine Google as Part of Increased Big Tech Enforcement

The European Commission is preparing a new round of fines against Google as part of a broader escalation in enforcement of the EU’s Digital Markets Act. The penalties could total hundreds of millions of euros and target alleged self-preferencing in search results, where Google is accused of favoring its own shopping and travel services over rivals. Regulators also want Google to give app developers more freedom to direct users to alternative app distribution systems outside the Play Store. The EU may impose daily fines if Google does not comply within 60 days, and could also require broader access to search ranking and click-stream data, plus certain Gemini-related features for third-party AI providers. The action increases regulatory pressure on Alphabet and signals that other large US tech firms could face similar scrutiny. The news is negative for Google and highlights rising compliance and legal risk for major platform companies in Europe.