EU Fines Google €890 Million as Google Play Ruling Could Benefit Brokers and Crypto Apps

The European Commission fined Google a total of €890 million today (Thursday) for breaching the European Union's Digital Markets Act. The penalties include a €430 million fine over Google Play and a €460 million fine over Google's treatment of competing services in Search.The Google Play decision could have implications for fintech companies, brokers and cryptocurrency exchanges that use Android applications to acquire and retain customers. The Commission said Google prevented app developers from directing users free of charge to cheaper offers available through rival app stores or their own websites.The latest decision follows the EU's push to reshape app store competition after previously scrutinising Apple's App Store policies under the Digital Markets Act.Google Play Changes Could Aid FintechsAccording to the regulator, Google must stop restricting developers from steering users to alternative purchasing channels. The company has 60 days to comply with the decision.The ruling could give digital financial services providers greater flexibility in how they communicate payment options for subscription products, premium trading tools and other paid services outside Google's app marketplace. Directing users to external payment options could help companies avoid Google Play's billing system in some cases.The Commission said Google has already proposed changes to its Google Play steering terms, describing them as "good progress towards compliance." It added that the proposed measures will continue to be assessed as discussions with the company continue.⚠️ We have fined Google €890 million for breaching the Digital Markets Act, by promoting their own services and restricting customer access to alternatives on Google Search and Google Play. EU Extends DMA Focus Toward AIDespite the fines, the Commission said Google's ongoing discussions with regulators and testing of compliance measures mean additional daily penalty payments are not expected at this stage.The Google Play penalty was announced alongside a separate €460 million fine over Google's Search practices. The Commission said the company had treated its own services more favourably than competing offerings in search results, breaching the DMA.These are Google's first fines under the Digital Markets Act. They are also the company's fifth and sixth major EU antitrust penalties, bringing its total competition fines in Europe to €10.38 billion over nearly two decades.The Commission also said the principles behind today's decisions could eventually apply to Google's AI-powered Search products, including AI Overviews and AI Mode, as discussions with the company continue.