Google Faces EU Charges in Big Tech Antitrust Crackdown Amid Rising Trade Tensions with U.S.
Google d’Alphabet is expected to be billed by the European Commission for violation of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) after its proposed modifications in the research results formats have not responded to the concerns raised by regulators and rival companies.
The accusations, which focus on the alleged self-reflection of Google of its own services on competitors in research results, take place at a time of increasing tensions between the European Union and the United States.
The European Commission’s decision is interpreted by some as a warning to the administration of the American president Donald Trump, who threatened to impose prices on European goods. The EU warned that it could retaliate by intensifying control over the giants of Silicon Valley, a threat that added to the fears of a transatlantic trade war.
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The European Commission launched its investigation into Google in March 2024, examining whether the technology giant unfairly favored its own services, such as Google Shopping, Google Flights and Google Hotels – on those of competitors. The probe also examined if Google imposes unfair restrictions on the application developers, which prevents them from informing users of cheaper offers available outside the Google Play Store.
The imminent charges arise from the question of the favoritism of research, which has long been a controversial point between Google and the regulators. Despite multiple adjustments to its research algorithm and its design, the proposals of the company have been rejected by competitors and regulators, who argue that they still do not respect the law on digital markets.
In response to increasing regulatory pressure, Google has defended its position, arguing that new changes to its research algorithms could have a negative impact on the user experience by removing key features that help consumers find relevant information. In a blog article in December 2024, Oliver Bethell, director of the EMEA competition in Google, stressed that the company worked to reach a “balanced solution” with EU regulators.
Despite these insurances, EU officials remain skeptical. The regulators are particularly unhappy with Google’s threat to return to a simpler “Blue Links” format if it is unable to reach an agreement with competitors. This decision was perceived as an attempted Google to put pressure on the EU to soften its position on the regulation of major technologies.
The legal battle of Google with the EU is part of a broader conflict between the giants of Silicon Valley and European regulators. Companies like Google, Apple, Meta and Amazon have repeatedly criticized the regulations of the European Commission, arguing that surregulation stifles innovation, hinders competition and limits economic growth.
The law on digital markets, which entered into force in 2023, imposes strict rules on technological companies with dominant market positions, prohibiting them from promoting their own products and services. Companies noted in DMA violation face fines of up to 10% of their world annual income, a figure which could exceed $ 28 billion for Google, based on its revenues of 2023 of more than $ 280 billion .
Exchange tensions between the EU and the United States
Beyond the legal implications, the case against Google could worsen the existing dead end between Brussels and Washington. European officials have warned that they will not hesitate to intensify their repression against American technology giants if Washington is carrying out price threats.
In this context, the actions of the European Commission are now considered to be part of a broader strategy to assert its regulatory independence and send a message to the United States that it would not back down in the face of economic threats.
What is the next step for Google and Big Tech?
With official costs expected in the coming months, Google faces one of its greatest regulatory challenges to date. If it is found guilty, the company could be forced to considerably modify its search engine operations, which has led to a major change in the way Google presents research results in Europe.
Meanwhile, the European Commission also pursues separate surveys on Apple and Meta, which are both more advanced. Decisions in these cases could further shape the functioning of great technology in Europe.
