[German]On September 5, 2025, the EU Commission announced that it had imposed a fine of €2.95 billion on Google "for abusive practices in the field of online advertising technology."
EThis had been expected for a long time, as the European Commission had launched several investigations against Google based on the Digital Markets Act (see EU-Kommission knöpft sich Apple und Google vor). The European Commission's accusation was that Google had engaged in abusive practices in its search engine.
On September 5, 2025, the European Commission announced in a press release entitled Commission fines Google €2.95 billion over abusive practices in online advertising technology that it had imposed a fine of €2.95 billion on Google.
The fine was imposed for violating EU antitrust rules by distorting competition in the advertising technology ("adtech") industry. Google sells advertising on its own websites and through applications and acts as an intermediary between advertisers who want to place their ads online and publishers (i.e., third parties, websites, and apps) who can provide this space.
The EU communication states that Google, as a US multinational technology company, relies on advertising as its main source of revenue. And in this area, Google has distorted competition by favoring its own online display advertising services to the detriment of competing providers of advertising technology services, advertisers, and online publishers.
The Commission has asked Google to stop these self-preferencing practices and take steps to address the inherent conflicts of interest along the adtech supply chain. Google now has 60 days to inform the Commission how it intends to do so.
Further details can be found in the EU Commission's announcement. The fine imposed on Google is moderate and is likely due to the current negotiations between the EU and the US on a customs agreement. However, US President Trump has already announced that he will take action against such "trade barriers for big tech."
