European Commission Imposes Another Record Fine on Google Over Digital Advertising
The European Commission has imposed a new record fine of €2.95 billion on Google over what it described as unfair practices in digital advertising, marking the latest chapter in Brussels’ long-running battle with U.S. tech giants. Regulators argue that the company abused its dominance by favoring its own services at the expense of competitors, warning that forced divestitures of parts of Google’s business remain an option if the company fails to comply. EU Competition Commissioner Teresa Ribera stated that Google must present a credible solution to address conflicts of interest, stressing that the EU “will not hesitate to impose strong remedies.”
Google quickly announced plans to appeal, calling the decision excessive and harmful to European businesses that rely on its tools. “This ruling demands changes that will make it harder for thousands of companies across the EU to operate,” said Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s Global Head of Regulatory Affairs.
The case has further heightened political tensions between Brussels and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump denounced the fine as “discriminatory” and threatened retaliatory measures under the 1974 Trade Act, saying he would not tolerate what he described as attacks on “American ingenuity” and hinting at possible tariffs. This penalty, the fourth Google has faced in the past decade from the EU, follows years of investigation and complaints from publishing associations. It comes just days after a U.S. court rejected a request to break up Google, underscoring the sharp contrast between regulatory approaches on the two sides of the Atlantic.
