The European Union has imposed a record €2.95 billion ($3.47 billion) fine on Google for antitrust violations, ruling that the tech giant abused its market dominance by giving preferential treatment to its own advertising services.
The penalty, announced on Friday, underscores Brussels’ tough stance on regulating large technology firms, even in the face of political pressure from Washington. Former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously cautioned the EU against imposing punitive measures on American tech companies, warning of potential strain in transatlantic trade relations.
EU competition authorities found that Google systematically favored its own ad services over rivals in search results, thereby limiting competition and harming both advertisers and consumers. The fine marks one of the largest ever levied against a single company in the bloc’s history.
“Google’s practices undermined fair competition in digital advertising, which is central to the online economy. Today’s decision sends a clear signal that no company, no matter how dominant, is above EU competition rules,” the Commission said in a statement.
Google, which has faced multiple antitrust challenges in Europe over the past decade, has yet to issue a formal response to the latest ruling. The company is expected to appeal the decision.
Analysts note that the ruling could further strain EU-U.S. relations on digital trade, while also setting a precedent for how Europe intends to regulate the influence of big tech in its markets.
