EU plans to fine Google, months after the company said that the changes it made to Google Search under DMA represent biggest downgrade in its history

The European Union is now preparing to impose a high tripe-digit million euro fine on Alphabet’s Google, according to Germany’s Handleblatt newspaper. The penalty is said to be announced before the summer break, would mark the largest sanction yet under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) legislation which is designed to curb the dominance of big tech companies. In March 2025, European Commission launched its investigation focusing on whether Google’s search engine unfairly favours its own services in results. The regulators also wanted to maker sure compliance with the DMA, which requires gatekeepers like Google to operate more transparently and fairly. As per the report, the Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier also stressed that the priority of EU is securing compliance rather than punishment, but added, “Even with our negotiations on future solutions, we will not hesitate to move to the next steps as soon as possible.”Google has been critical of the impact of DMA on its search product. A company spokesperson said, “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.” Earlier this month, the commission also granted additional time to Google to address concerns after its previous proposals fell short.The looming fine underscores the EU’s determination to enforce the DMA, which came into effect to rein in the power of digital giants. The investigation centers on potential breaches of the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a landmark set of rules designed to curb the dominance of “Big Tech” companies. As of May 2026, the investigation into Alphabet has broadened to cover several critical areas of the digital economy. These include allegations that Google unfairly prioritises its own services over those of competitors.Further, there have been concerns that Google is using content from publishers to train and power its AI models without providing fair compensation. The EU is also investigating the company’s “adtech” practices that may disadvantage rival advertising platforms.The European Commission is currently finalising its decision. Under the Digital Markets Act (DMA), companies found in violation can face significant penalties, including heavy fines, and the companies may be forced changes to their core business models.