The European Commission has slapped Google with a €905 million (£824 million) fine for prioritizing its own services in search results.

According to the EC's investigation, Google abused its dominant position in search and app stores to favor its products over competitors. The commission ordered Google to stop giving preferential treatment to its services and allow app developers to communicate directly with users outside the Play Store.

Rosa Ferreira, a competition commissioner at the EC, stated that consumers have the right to know where to sign up for the best offers, even if it means bypassing the company's own store. Google has vowed to appeal the decision and argues that it is unfair competition driven by self-serving complainants.

Professor Kathryn McMahon from the University of Warwick emphasizes that companies in dominant positions like Google have a special responsibility not to distort competition. Despite the fine, tech trade bodies argue that such heavy-handed enforcement could reduce the quality of services available to Europeans.