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<p>European Union regulators fined Google 890 million euros (about $1 billion) for using its dominance as the world’s leading search engine to unfairly promote its own services in areas such as shopping, travel, games, and language translation, while demoting competing services in search results.</p>
<p>The commission also found that Google imposed restrictions on its Google Play store that hindered app developers from communicating with users or conducting transactions that could reduce Google’s fees.</p>
<p>The ruling, issued under the Digital Markets Act, concluded that the company exploited its gatekeeper position to squeeze out rivals and restrict competition in major digital markets.</p>
<p>Commission officials argued that the decision aligns with the DMA’s goal of ensuring fairness, choice, and innovation in digital markets for European citizens.</p>
<p>Google has 60 days to comply, which could include increasing the prominence of rival services or face penalties up to 5 percent of worldwide revenue. The company indicated that the changes would affect product design and potentially harm services for European users.</p>
<p>Market observers noted that the fine is modest relative to Google’s overall profitability, with Alphabet reporting strong quarterly earnings the day before the decision.</p>
<p>Regulators indicated the action was prepared independently of U.S. trade developments, while observers anticipated how policymakers in Washington would respond to the EU decision and ongoing tensions in technology regulation.</p>
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