The European Commission is reportedly preparing to slap Google with its largest fine yet under the Digital Markets Act, a penalty that could reach into the high triple-digit millions of euros. German outlet Handelsblatt broke the news, with the announcement expected as early as this week.
If confirmed, it would represent the biggest financial penalty ever issued under the DMA, a regulatory framework that entered force in November 2022 and began active enforcement in May 2023. The charges center on two familiar complaints: Google allegedly giving preferential treatment to its own services in Search results, and imposing anti-steering rules in the Google Play Store that prevent developers from directing users to alternative payment options.
Why this matters beyond Big Tech
The EU Court of Justice recently upheld a separate antitrust fine of roughly $4.125 billion against Google over its Android practices. That ruling, handed down on July 2, 2026, gave Brussels a significant legal tailwind. Now the Commission appears ready to use the DMA’s newer, more aggressive toolkit to pile on additional pressure.
The DMA designates certain companies as “gatekeepers,” essentially platforms so large and entrenched that they can dictate terms to everyone else in the ecosystem. Google, Apple, Meta, and Amazon all carry that designation. The DMA gives the Commission power to fine gatekeepers up to 10% of their global annual turnover for violations, and up to 20% for repeat offenses.
