Google is in trouble with the European Union again

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Google is once again in trouble with European regulators over its business practices. 

The European Commission, the regulatory body of the European Union (EU), has accused Google of violating the Digital Markets Act (DMA), a law designed to ensure fair competition in the tech industry. 

If found guilty, Google could face fines of up to 10% of its global annual revenue, possibly even harsher penalties for repeated offenses.

The EU claims that Google is still unfairly favoring its own services, such as Google Shopping, Hotels, and Flights, by giving it a prominent position in search results, making it harder for competitors to compete. 

Additionally, regulators are scrutinizing Google’s policies on its Play Store, specifically whether it prevents app developers from informing users about better deals outside the platform. 

The Commission believes that Google’s service fees for app developers may be unreasonably high.

Since March 2024, EU regulators have investigated various aspects of Google’s operations to determine if they comply with the DMA. 

In a press release, the Commission expressed concerns that Google’s recent changes to its search and Play Store policies are still not sufficient to meet regulatory requirements. 

The DMA is meant to prevent tech giants from using their market dominance to shut out smaller competitors, and regulators worry that Google’s current practices undermine this goal.

Google, however, argues that its business practices aim to improve user experience rather than suppress competition. 

It also warns that strict enforcement of the DMA could have unintended consequences, such as security risks and slower innovation. 

Despite the ongoing tensions, Google is willing to cooperate with the EU to find a solution that satisfies regulators while maintaining its user-friendly services.

This latest legal battle follows Google’s previous troubles with the European Commission. In 2018, the company was fined $5 billion for giving its own service an unfair advantage in the Android smartphone market. 

What do you think about the EU going after Google? Do you think Google deserves to be regulated? We want to hear your thoughts in the comments, down below, or via our Twitter or Facebook.