The European Union has dealt a massive blow to Alphabet’s Google, imposing €890 million ($1 billion) in total fines for violating Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulations aimed at curtailing Big Tech dominance.
The penalty includes two fines: 460 million euros for favoring Googles own services—like shopping, hotels, transport and sports—in search results and 430 million euros for stopping app developers from sending users to cheaper deals outside of Google Play. European Commissioner, for Tech Sovereignty Henna Virkkunen said that Google unfairly stops businesses from competing and limits what developers can do. Google has 60 days to follow the rules. Google did not agree with the decision. Warned that it might take legal steps.
The European Unions action caused a reaction from Washington. President Donald Trump said this was not right and that it was not fair. He said the United States will not give money to regulators anymore. President Donald Trump announced that the United States will look into what the European Union's doing. He said if the European Union does not stop punishing tech companies the United States will put new taxes on European things. President Donald Trump is very upset, with the European Union.
This escalating clash marks a dangerous new chapter in transatlantic relations, placing Big Tech regulation right at the center of a potential global trade war.