EU fines Google 890 million euros over search and app store practices

The European Commission said Thursday it fined Google 890 million euros after an investigation found the company had preferenced its own search engine and app store in ways that unfairly harmed competitors. Regulators said the practices affected how rival services appeared and functioned across Google's platforms.

The case is the latest in a long-running EU antitrust campaign against Google, which has faced billions of euros in fines over the past decade for similar conduct. Brussels has repeatedly argued that Google used its dominant market position to give its own products favorable treatment over competing services, undermining fair competition in search and app distribution. The ruling reinforces the European Union's authority to police dominant technology platforms operating within its markets.

Google is expected to appeal the fine before EU courts, a process that could take years to resolve. The decision could also shape how EU digital regulations are enforced going forward, and rival search and app companies may point to the case in their own competition complaints against major platforms.