Brussels prepares multi-million euro Google fines as DMA enforcement intensifies

The moving enforcement targets the core of Google’s ecosystem—search data and mobile OS control—shifting the Digital Markets Act from a theoretical framework into a disruptive operational burden. For streaming and travel services, this could level the playing field by removing Google's specialized search shortcuts that currently high-jack user intent. However, Google’s claim that these changes constitute a 'downgrade' in product quality highlights a growing tension between regulatory interoperability and platform security. Watch for whether Google initiates a legal appeal to the European Court of Justice, which could delay the January 2027 data-sharing deadline.

The European Commission's latest move follows a precedent of escalating fines under the Digital Markets Act. In April 2025, the Commission issued its first formal non-compliance penalties, fining Apple €500 million for anti-steering violations in the App Store and Meta €200 million for its 'consent-or-pay' data model, per European Commission press releases from that period. These earlier actions established a 60-day compliance clock, similar to the one now facing Google, to force immediate behavioral changes rather than long-term legal battles.

Beyond fines, the EU is now using 'binding specification measures' to dictate the technical architecture of Big Tech products. According to reporting from The Verge and Ars Technica in July 2026, Article 6(11) of the DMA specifically requires Google to share anonymized click and view data on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. This is intended to boost the competitive viability of alternative search engines that lack Google's decades of query history.

Simultaneously, the EU is focusing on the emerging AI sector to prevent the formation of new monopolies. Per court documents and official statements in July 2026, regulators are demanding that third-party AI assistants regain the same system-level hooks that Gemini enjoys, such as 'Hey Google' voice activation and access to core services like Gmail. This regulatory push aligns with a broader 'tech sovereignty' goal in Brussels aimed at reducing European reliance on US-based software stacks while ensuring local AI developers can compete on Android devices.