The European Commission is assessing changes Google has made to its search engine and app store after imposing fines totalling €890 million in July 2026 for favouring its own services and restricting app developers, as the technology company seeks to comply with EU competition requirements.
Thomas Regnier, a European Commission spokesperson, told a daily press briefing on Wednesday that the regulator was discussing the measures with Google but would not prejudge the outcome. “I can guarantee you that the Commission services are currently in dialogue with Google precisely on this issue,” he said.
The fines comprised €460 million for favouring Google’s services in shopping, hotels, transport and sports search results, and €430 million over restrictions imposed on developers distributing applications through Google Play. The penalties were equivalent to approximately $1 billion at the exchange rate reported by Reuters.
The Commission ordered Google to implement changes to ensure rival services were treated fairly and without discrimination in search results. It also required the company to allow app developers to direct users towards alternative purchasing options outside Google Play within 60 days.
Google has already begun making adjustments to its search results and has announced and implemented changes to service fees charged to developers using Google Play, according to the Commission spokesperson’s office. The changes form part of the company’s response to the regulator’s requirements following the July penalties.
The Commission said it would conduct a detailed review of the measures before determining whether Google’s actions adequately address its concerns. The assessment will include gathering feedback from market operators and other third parties, allowing the regulator to consider the effects of the changes beyond Google’s own account of its compliance efforts.
The review concerns two areas of Google’s business that have attracted scrutiny over how the company uses its market position: the presentation of search results and the conditions governing access to its mobile application distribution platform. The Commission has not yet announced the outcome of its assessment or whether further action will be required.
The dialogue marks the next stage in the enforcement process following the July fines, with the Commission examining whether Google’s implemented and announced changes satisfy its demands for fairer treatment of competitors and greater freedom for app developers.
