Google could soon face its biggest Digital Markets Act penalty yet, as the European Union is reportedly preparing a high triple-digit million euro fine over concerns that the tech giant favors its own services in Search.
TL;DR
- The EU is reportedly preparing a high triple-digit million euro fine against Google.
- The case focuses on whether Google favors its own services in Search results.
- Google says DMA-driven Search changes have already hurt the experience for European users.
- The decision could arrive before the EU’s summer break.
The European Union is reportedly planning to fine Alphabet-owned Google a high triple-digit million euro amount as part of an antitrust investigation under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), according to Reuters.
The decision is said to be nearing completion and could be announced before the EU’s summer break. If finalized, it would become the largest penalty imposed so far under the DMA, the bloc’s regulation designed to limit the power of dominant digital gatekeepers.
The investigation focuses on Google Search and concerns that the company may be favoring its own services in search results over competing offerings. The European Commission sent preliminary findings to Alphabet in March 2025, saying Google Search may not be complying with DMA obligations that require fair and non-discriminatory treatment.
This case is separate from the EU’s adtech penalty against Google. In September 2025, the European Commission fined Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology, with Reuters noting that advertising accounted for more than 75% of Alphabet’s 2024 revenue.
For now, the Commission appears to be pushing for remedies before moving fully into punishment mode. Earlier this month, Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said Google was being given “a bit more time” after a previous proposal fell short.
“The reality for now is that solution is simply not strong enough. So we're giving Google a bit more time to keep engaging with the Commission to offer a solution that really addresses the concerns in the interest of European businesses and European citizens,” Regnier said, according to Reuters.
However, the Commission is not ruling out escalation. In response to the Handelsblatt report, Regnier said the Commission is more interested in securing compliance than imposing penalties, but added, “Even with our negotiations on future solutions, we will not hesitate to move to the next steps as soon as possible.”
Google, on the other hand, has pushed back against the regulatory pressure and says the DMA has already weakened Search in Europe.
“The changes we've already made to Search under the DMA represent the biggest downgrade in the product's history, creating a second-rate experience for Europeans to the benefit of a few self-interested complainants,” a Google spokesperson said.
The latest reported fine would add to a growing list of European regulatory actions against Google. In another DMA-related investigation, EU regulators are examining whether Google unfairly demotes certain media publisher content under its site reputation abuse policy.
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The stakes are high because DMA violations can lead to fines of up to 10% of a company’s annual global turnover, with higher penalties possible for repeated violations. The outcome of this case could therefore set a major precedent for how aggressively the EU enforces search neutrality rules against Big Tech gatekeepers.
For Google, the challenge is balancing regulatory compliance with its claim that certain changes could reduce Search quality. For European regulators, the priority is ensuring that businesses dependent on Google Search can compete on fairer terms.
Either way, the expected decision could become one of the most important DMA enforcement moments yet, and another sign that Europe’s Big Tech rulebook is moving from warning letters to serious financial consequences.
