On July 23, the European Commission imposed a fine of €890 million (nearly $1 billion) on Alphabet, Google's parent company, for two violations of the Digital Markets Act. This represents the highest economic sanction against a technology platform since the DMA entered into force.
The Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires large platforms designated as gatekeepers to compete on fair terms within the European Union. The decision against Google, reported by [The Verge](https://www.theverge.com), follows more than two years of investigation and a preliminary statement issued in March 2025. Google is the third company fined under this legislation, following Apple and Meta, which were sanctioned in 2025. For users in Mexico, the relevance is direct: Android and Google Search dominate the national smartphone and internet search markets. Adjustments made by the company in Europe often extend to other markets because standardizing practices globally is more efficient than maintaining different rules by region.
The sanction consists of two parts. The first, totaling €460 million, relates to the preferential treatment Google gives to its own services (Shopping, Hotels, and Flights) in search results, to the detriment of competitors such as price comparison sites and travel agencies. The second, totaling €430 million, sanctions the restrictions imposed by the company on Android application developers to prevent them from informing users about cheaper payment options available outside the Play Store. According to [Associated Press](https://apnews.com), the European Commission had already rejected a preliminary correction proposal from Google in May, considering it insufficient. The sanctioned infractions cover the period from March 2024 to December 2025.
Google now has 60 days to comply with the requirements or face additional periodic payments of up to 5 percent of its global daily turnover. Changes made to the search engine and Play Store for European users serve as an indicator of where digital platform regulation in North America will move. The European sanction acts as a regulatory laboratory whose effects often cross the Atlantic.
This note was drafted with assistance from artificial intelligence based on verified sources and reviewed by a human editor before publication.