Abu dhabi: The European Union on Thursday imposed fines totaling £890 million ($1 billion) on Google, in a decision that could intensify tensions with the United States.
According to Emirates News Agency, the EU penalized the US tech giant £460 million for unlawfully favoring its own services-such as Google Flights and Google Hotels-over competitors in search results. This decision marks a significant step in the EU's ongoing efforts to regulate major technology firms and ensure fair competition within its markets.
Furthermore, a second fine of £430 million was imposed because Google restricted app developers from presenting offers, free of charge, outside the Google Play store. The European Commission highlighted this practice as a barrier to innovation and competition, particularly affecting small and medium-sized enterprises.
Henna Virkkunen, the EU's tech chief, emphasized the importance of the decision, stating, "After this decision, we want to make sure that there is more competition and also other companies are able to innovate." This move reflects the EU's commitment to fostering a competitive digital marketplace and preventing monopolistic practices by dominant firms.
